LOS ANGELES −Kumail Nanjianididn't hold back on skewering as host of the 78thDirectors Guild of America Awardson Saturday, Feb. 7, mocking the awards' racist past and tossing in aJeffrey Epsteinjoke.
Kicking off the annual event, Nanjiani, 47, pointed out from the Beverly Hills Hotel podium that the guild's lifetime achievement award was known for five decades as the D.W. Griffith Award − named after the director most famous for the 1915 film "The Birth of a Nation."
" 'The Birth of a Nation' glorifies theKu Klux Klanas the heroic force that maintains white supremacy. It has been called the most reprehensibly racist film in Hollywood history," Nanjiani said. "So of course, we had to change the name of the award as soon as we could, which was 1999."
Directors Guild of America Awards:Seth Rogen honors 'utter genius' Catherine O'Hara
Nanjiani expressed surprise that it took so long and noted that"The Matrix"was released the same year as the change.
"We were like, 'The KKK, let's see how things play out,' " he said. "They changed the name at the 51st DGA Awards. It was the first time something has turned 51 and gotten less racist."
Nanjiani also elbowed director Ryan Coogler's "Sinners,"which has a record 16 Academy Award nominations.
"Every bad guy in 'Sinners' is a white person, which makes it the most realistic movie of the year. No offense ... to almost anyone here," he said, looking over the audience. "No film has so effectively captured the true horror of white people dancing."
A small group of entertainers can say they have won all of the big awards: Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony (EGOT). Read on to see when and how various Hollywood stars achieved the coveted status.Steven Spielberg won his first Grammy Award Feb. 1, 2026 as a producer on the documentary "Music by John Williams," which was named best music film. It also marked Spielberg's first Grammy nomination in his decadeslong career.
Accepting the Grammy at the non-televised event, director Laurent Bouzereau thanked Spielberg as well as Williams, the iconic film composer "who arguably scored the story of my life and scored all of us." He also called the movie "the story of one of our greatest music voices ever."
" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
Elton John joined the club Jan. 15, 2024 when he won an Emmy for outstanding variety special for "Elton John: Farewell From Dodger Stadium." "I am incredibly humbled to be joining the unbelievably talented group of EGOT winners tonight. The journey to this moment has been filled with passion, dedication, and the unwavering support of my fans all around the world," John said." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
"I wrote this book to honor the 6-year-old Viola, to honor her life, her joy, her trauma. It has been such a journey. I JUST EGOT!" Davis said in her acceptance speech." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
John Legend was the first Black man to join the prestigious club. He completed it in 2018 with his Emmy win for his producer role on NBC's "Jesus Christ Superstar," which won live variety special." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Stars with EGOT status: See who's won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony
A small group of entertainers can say they have won all of the big awards: Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony (EGOT). Read on to see when and how various Hollywood stars achieved the coveted status.
Steven Spielbergwon his firstGrammy AwardFeb. 1, 2026 as a producer on the documentary "Music by John Williams," which was named best music film. It also marked Spielberg's first Grammy nomination in his decadeslong career.
Accepting the Grammy at the non-televised event, directorLaurent Bouzereauthanked Spielberg as well as Williams, the iconic film composer "who arguably scored the story of my life and scored all of us." He also called the movie "the story of one of our greatest music voices ever."
Kumail Nanjiani calls for one person on the Epstein list to be shot into space
During one segment, Nanjiani looked to revered director Steven Spielberg, the most decorated DGA member.
The host called Spielberg "not only perhaps the greatest filmmaker of all time, he's also clairvoyant. He's made movies about everything we're talking about right now: AI, Nazis ('Raiders of the Lost Ark'), the government coming after harmless aliens ('E.T.')."
"It's like you've predicted the last 10 years of our lives," Nanjiani said. The comedian,who has previously mocked President Trump, then seemed to reference him: "Steven, can your next movie be about an 80-year-old onthe Epstein listwho gets shot into space?"
Trump is one among many famous names that have appeared in the Epstein files. The president has denied any wrongdoing and has not been charged in relation to Epstein, a wealthy and well-connected financier who was charged with sex trafficking girls.
Nanjiani got serious about the importance of directors making movies in a troubled world before dropping one more zinger.
"In this challenging moment, it is more important than ever, and I genuinely, sincerely thank you for doing it. You remind us of our shared humanity while also celebrating our differences, because our commonality may make us human, but our differences make us beautiful," said Nanjiani. "And that is what D.W. Griffith represents."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:DGA host Kumail Nanjiani mocks awards' racist past, Epstein files
