Oprah Winfrey and The Color Purple Cast React to Being Served 'Pizza in a Bag' at Critics Choice Awards

At the 2024 Critics Choice Awards, Fantasia Barrino wanted to know: "Where are the lamb chops?"

Stars like Emma Stone, Paul Giamatti, and the cast of The Color Purple were not served a formal sit-down dinner during the Sunday night show hosted by Chelsea Handler. Instead, they munched on boxes of charcuterie and pizza that came in a bag.

Oprah Daily caught the moment that The Color Purple's Barrino, Taraji P. Henson, Danielle Brooks and Oprah Winfrey (who co-produced the remake) were served the flatbread. In a video posted to Instagram, a server is seen handing out the pizza bags from a box hanging from her neck.

All four women had very different reactions to the meal. Barrino deadpanned the camera and asked for something with more substance. Henson gladly grabbed a slice, and Brooks smiled with her pizza. Winfrey, however, skipped the food. She pointed to her mouth and said, "I'm not messing up my lips!"

The Color Purple was nominated for best picture, best acting ensemble, best costume design and best hair and makeup. Brookes was also nominated for best supporting actress. The movie did not take home a win on Sunday but the cast has been supporting each other on the red carpet and at events since before the movie premiered in theaters on Dec. 25.

Giamatti, who won best actor for his performance in The Holdovers gave a shout out to the pizza in his acceptance speech.

“Wow, guys, I didn’t think my week could get any better than going viral for eating a cheeseburger,” joked Giamatti, who was spotted at In-N-Out with his Golden Globe after the ceremony on Jan. 7.

“Serious guys, I need that endorsement. So let’s all just pray for me,” he continued. “Everybody get their pizza in a bag, by the way? I think that’d be a good endorsement. Paul Giamatti for pizza in a bag.”