Aidy Bryant Reflects on Unfiltered Moment at Spirit Awards

SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Aidy Bryant opened her monologue at the Independent Spirit Awards on Saturday by reflecting on a past intimate moment with actor Kieran Culkin, who hosted “Saturday Night Live” in 2021.

During her speech, Bryant recalled a sketch in which the two were required to kiss in a comedic context. Although the sketch was cut and never aired, Culkin’s remark during dress rehearsal about her commitment to the kiss left a lasting impression.

“Kieran and I worked together when he hosted ‘SNL,’ and we had to kiss — in a comedic way. After dress rehearsal, Kieran said to my co-writer, ‘Wow, Aidy really went for it with that kiss,'” Bryant recounted. “That actually got back to me, and then the sketch was cut and it never made it to air. It just became a thing that I have to live with.”

In a lighthearted attempt to “clear the air,” she humorously apologized for her forwardness. “I’m sorry, Kieran, and I’m sorry to Kieran’s wife,” she said, adding a comedic twist by stating, “I actually didn’t go for it with the kiss. I was doing a normal nothing-ass kiss. If I had gone for it, his ass would be divorced!”

Bryant’s monologue also addressed the challenges of aging in Hollywood, stating, “40 is the new 20” as the Spirit Awards celebrated its 40th anniversary this year. She remarked, “It has been a great year for film and a bad year for human life.”

Throughout the ceremony, Bryant, along with former SNL co-worker Julio Torres, performed a comedic bit about being psychic. Joining them on stage was Anora‘s Karren Karagulian, with Bryant dressing as Mikey Madison’s character from a film.

This year, both “Anora” and “I Saw the TV Glow” entered the event with six nominations each. While Anora won three awards, I Saw the TV Glow left the ceremony empty-handed.

The Independent Spirit Awards are known for celebrating independent films and their creators, and the event featured several prominent attendees and presenters. Among the roster were Tadanobu Asano, Carrie Coon, and Michelle Yeoh, contributing to the celebratory atmosphere.

This year’s awards highlighted the achievements of independent filmmakers and performers over the past year, encouraging an appreciation for creativity and storytelling outside of mainstream Hollywood.

The Film Independent Spirit Awards will be streamed live on various platforms starting at 2 p.m. PT on February 22, 2025, showcasing the nominees and winners of the night.