Ali Wong Wins Best Stand-Up Special at Golden Globes: “This Means a Lot”

Ali Wong won the 2025 Golden Globe for best performance in stand-up comedy on television on Sunday.

Her win came for Ali Wong: Single Lady, her fourth Netflix special, about post-divorce life. In her acceptance speech, Wong recalled the small San Francisco comedy clubs where she got her start as a stand-up comic.

“I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for all the stage time that I got there and all the practice I got to become a stand up comedian. So I really want to thank Molly Schminke from the San Francisco Comedy Club. And yea, my best friend is here, Mia (Serafino). Thank you so much for all of your love and support throughout the years, and this means a lot. Thank you so much,” Wong told the Golden Globes audience.

The stand-up special Ali Wong: Single Lady has the comedian opening up about her quest for love following the demise of her marriage.

Wong won a competitive category that included Jamie Foxx, nominated for his Jamie Foxx: What Had Happened Was special, Nikki Glaser (Nikki Glaser: Someday You’ll Die), Seth Meyers (Seth Meyers: Dad Man Walking), Adam Sandler (Adam Sandler: Love You) and Ramy Youssef (Ramy Youssef: More Feelings). 

The stand-up category was only added last year when Ricky Gervais won the inaugural competition as he beat out Chris Rock, Trevor Noah, Amy Schumer, Sarah Silverman and Wanda Sykes. The live special format has seen rising prominence and popularity as HBO and Netflix ramp up their own star driven, stand-up comedy offerings. 

Best performance in stand-up comedy on television, recognizes comedians who gave “performances of traditional stand-up comedy of at least 30 consecutive minutes, other than roles in television series, limited series, anthology series or motion pictures made for television” on “a recognized media platform (individual social media accounts do not qualify),” according to the Golden Globe awards rules.