At a Glance
- Teyana Taylor now says Leonardo DiCaprio was not speaking to her during his viral Golden Globes moment
- The pair’s film One Battle After Another won four trophies on Jan. 11, 2026
- Taylor had earlier told Access Hollywood they were “kekeing” about KPop Demon Hunters
- Why it matters: Celebrities often clarify misread viral clips that fuel fan speculation
Teyana Taylor has walked back her initial claim that Leonardo DiCaprio was chatting her up in the now-viral Golden Globes video that shows the Oscar winner laughing and gesturing across the table.
The 35-year-old actor appeared on The Tonight Show Wednesday, Jan. 14, and told host Jimmy Fallon that, after re-watching the TikTok clip, she realized DiCaprio was not addressing her.
The Mix-Up
“Okay, so look, yesterday, I thought I broke the Da Vinci Code, right?” Taylor joked, referencing her prior interview with Access Hollywood on Tuesday, Jan. 13. In that segment she said she and DiCaprio were “just jamming” about KPop Demon Hunters.
Taylor explained her change of heart:
- She first saw only part of the video and assumed DiCaprio was talking to her
- After watching the full clip and reading online lip-reading attempts, she called DiCaprio
- He confirmed he had “two KPop Demon Hunter conversations that night” but couldn’t recall the second participant
“I was like, ‘You can’t be talking to me, were you talking to me?’ Because I already told people you was talking to me,” Taylor said.
Their Longtime Friendship
Taylor noted that she and DiCaprio, 51, have been friends for years and often converse with animated expressions. She teased him about the mystery companion: “Who else are you chewing your invisible gum with?”
DiCaprio’s more reserved public persona made the lively exchange stand out, fueling online chatter. Taylor added that her daughters-Iman “Junie” Tayla Shumpert Jr., 10, and Rue Rose Shumpert, 5-are huge KPop Demon Hunters fans, so the topic dominated their table talk.
Awards Scorecard
One Battle After Another dominated the Jan. 11 ceremony, collecting four Golden Globes:
| Category | Outcome |
|---|---|
| Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy | Won |
| Best Motion Picture – Animated | Won |
| Best Original Song | Won |
| Best Performance by an Actress – Musical or Comedy (Taylor) | Won |
The film has six total nominations heading into the March 1, 2026, Actor Awards, where both Taylor and DiCaprio are individual contenders.
Key Takeaways
- Viral moments can mislead: Taylor’s initial assumption shows how context matters
- DiCaprio’s animated side surprised fans, but the target remains unknown
- One Battle After Another continues its winning streak into awards season
