Inside the Critics Choice Awards snack plate that everyone’s talking about

The snack plate at the Critics Choice Awards 2026 drew attention online as fans shared photos of the spread

One of the most unexpectedly talked‑about moments at the 31st Annual Critics Choice Awards wasn’t on the red carpet, it was the snack plate served to guests, which quickly became a viral target for online trolls. Held at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica on January 4, 2026, the awards show normally draws attention for fashion and winners, but this year fans zeroed in on the miniature spread of hors d’oeuvres.

Photos of the snack plate, featuring tiny sliders, skewers, and assorted bite‑sized desserts, flooded social media, and users were quick to poke fun. Some called the portions “sadly small,” while others joked that the “tiny food would be invisible next to the celebrities’ outfits.” Memes comparing the snack plate to dollhouse food or even packing it for imaginary pets circulated widely, showing how much the spread caught the internet’s playful ire.

The trolls weren’t shy about their critiques. Twitter and X posts suggested the plate looked “like it lost a fight with a blender,” or “designed for Instagram, not appetite.” On TikTok, users recreated the snacks with humorous exaggeration, highlighting how far off they seemed from the lavish expectations of awards‑show catering. Even some attendees joined the joke online, posting tongue‑in‑cheek reviews of the “fun‑size awards season cuisine.”

Despite being a minor part of the ceremony, the snack plate ended up dominating conversations and trending on multiple platforms, proving that even the food at awards shows can become a target for internet humour. Fans joked that next year, Critics Choice might need a separate culinary awards segment, or at least bigger portions, if they want to avoid another trolling storm.