Nikki Glaser reveals how a 2019 roast joke comparing her to Larry Bird led to cosmetic changes, highlighting the emotional toll of public humor and her journey to self-acceptance.
Nikki Glaser, the sharp-witted comedian known for her fearless humor, has revealed how a seemingly harmless joke at the 2019 Comedy Central roast of Alec Baldwin led to a significant personal transformation. During the event, NBA star Blake Griffin quipped, “Larry Bird is here — I mean, Nikki Glaser is here,” a comment that Glaser admits deeply affected her self-perception.
In a candid conversation on SiriusXM’s “Let’s Talk Off Camera With Kelly Ripa,” Glaser, 41, shared the emotional aftermath of the joke. “At these roasts, we say things that are so cruel that even I go into them a lot of times thinking no one’s going to say something about me [that] I haven’t thought about myself. But they often do,” she confessed. The joke, which drew laughter from the audience, resonated with Glaser in a way that prompted her to seek cosmetic changes.
The Emotional Toll of Public Humor
Glaser’s reaction to the joke wasn’t just about the words themselves but the audience’s response. “People can make jokes,” she explained. “But when the audience gets it in a way where you’re like, ‘Oh no, this isn’t just one guy writing a joke behind the scenes about one picture of me found on Google Images. This is something resonating with the audience seeing me in person.’ That’s when it really hurts.”
The comedian admitted that the experience led her to seek cosmetic procedures. “At the afterparty, I’m in the bathroom crying and texting my injection lady to be like, ‘Get the bird out of my face,'” she joked. “Drain the bird. Free him from his cage.”
A Journey to Self-Acceptance
Glaser’s journey to self-acceptance has been a long one. In a 2025 interview with Vogue, she admitted, “I still think about some of the jokes that have been made about me from roasts six years ago. I still see them when I look in the mirror.” The comedian revealed that the Larry Bird joke was a turning point, leading her to seek cosmetic procedures to restructure her face.
“That was the first time I ever went and got injections in my face in a way that was like, ‘Let’s restructure things,'” she said. Glaser’s honesty about her journey highlights the emotional toll that public humor can take on even the most confident individuals.
The Power of Laughter and Pain
Glaser’s experience is a reminder of the power of laughter and the pain that can come with it. While she is known for her ability to make others laugh, she has also been on the receiving end of jokes that have deeply affected her. Her story is a testament to the resilience required to navigate the world of comedy and the importance of self-acceptance.
As Glaser prepares to host the 2026 Golden Globes, her journey serves as a powerful reminder of the emotional complexities that come with being in the public eye. Her honesty about her experiences with cosmetic procedures and self-acceptance is a testament to her strength and resilience.
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