Timothée chalamet’s win for Best actor at the 2026 Critics Choice Awards generated headlines not only for his performance in Marty Supreme, but also for a heartfelt moment shared with his partner, Kylie Jenner. In a surprising departure from his typically private demeanor, Chalamet publicly thanked Jenner during his acceptance speech, marking a notable acknowledgement of their three-year relationship. The gesture, met with visible emotion from Jenner and an keen response from the audience, quickly became a focal point of the awards show.
Timothée Chalamet used his Best Actor win at the 2026 Critics Choice Awards to publicly thank his partner, Kylie Jenner, in one of the most talked-about moments of the night.
Chalamet took home the award for his performance in Marty Supreme, where he plays Marty Mauser, a professional ping pong player with ambitious goals.
After thanking his fellow nominees, his team, and the film’s director, Josh Safdie, Chalamet turned his attention to Jenner, who was seated in the audience.
“And finally, I just want to say, thank you to my partner of three years. Thank you for our foundation,” Chalamet said from the stage. “I couldn’t have done this without you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
Cameras quickly panned to Jenner in the audience, who silently mouthed “I love you” back, prompting applause in the room and an immediate reaction on social media. The moment marked one of the most public displays of affection from the couple since they began attending high-profile industry events together.
Visibly moved, Chalamet admitted at the beginning of his speech that the moment had affected him more than he expected.
“I’m more nervous than I thought I was,” he said, before focusing on the creative team behind Marty Supreme. He praised co-writer and director Josh Safdie for crafting a story that centers on ambition without moralizing its protagonist.
“You made a story about a flawed man with a dream that we can all relate to, and you didn’t preach to the audience about what’s right or wrong,” Chalamet said. “I think we should all be telling stories like that. Thank you for this dream.”
The Best Actor category was one of the night’s most competitive: Chalamet beat out Leonardo DiCaprio (One Battle After Another), Joel Edgerton (Train Dreams), Ethan Hawke (Blue Moon), Michael B. Jordan (Sinners), and Wagner Moura (The Secret Agent).
In addition to Chalamet, the Marty Supreme cast includes Gwyneth Paltrow, Odessa A’zion, Kevin O’Leary of Shark Tank, Fran Drescher, Sandra Bernhard, magician Penn Jillette, and Abel Ferrara.
Marty Supreme grossed over $27 million at the box office during its four-day opening weekend, following its Christmas Day (December 25) release, according to Variety.
