E! Glambot producer removed from Grammys carpet after Jennifer Lopez controversy, leaked wedding emails

Variety reports E! sidelined Cole Walliser at Grammys following Golden Globes backlash and resurfaced emails

A longtime red carpet producer associated with E!’s Glambot was not part of the 2026 Grammy Awards arrivals team after a series of recent controversies, Variety has learned.

Cole Walliser, the field operator best known for running the Glambot — a high-speed camera system that captures slow-motion red carpet footage for E! — was notably absent from Sunday night’s Grammys. His absence was quickly noticed by social media users and fashion observers, as the Glambot remained active despite Walliser not appearing on the carpet.

According to network sources cited by Variety, Walliser was not hired for the broadcast, and E! is reassessing its approach to future red carpet telecasts. The decision follows weeks of unfavorable attention stemming from incidents that began at the January Golden Globe Awards.

During the Globes, Jennifer Lopez appeared at the Glambot in an archival Jean-Louis Scherrer gown. A livestream clip showed Lopez offering little interaction with Walliser as he attempted to guide her through the camera setup, prompting online criticism of the singer’s demeanor. Walliser publicly defended Lopez at the time, describing her as experienced and professional on press lines.

Attention later shifted to Walliser himself after screenshots of a past email exchange circulated online. The emails showed a tense conversation between Walliser and a private individual who inquired about booking the Glambot for a wedding. In the exchange, Walliser questioned the individual’s ability to afford the service and responded bluntly after she said she could cover the cost, remarks that drew widespread backlash once made public.

Walliser issued a public apology last week via Instagram, acknowledging that the tone of the emails was inappropriate. He explained that at the time of the correspondence in 2019, he was operating without staff support and managing all production and communication himself, but emphasized that this context did not excuse his behavior and that responsibility rested with him.

The apology did not fully resolve concerns at E!. A production source told Variety that the network — now owned by Versant following its separation from NBCUniversal — is committed to fostering a professional and respectful working environment and does not support conduct that conflicts with those values.

Representatives for E! declined to comment, and Walliser’s representatives did not respond to Variety’s request for comment. The Glambot technology was created in 2016 by music video and film director Joseph Kahn.

As Walliser’s situation underscores, even in an industry increasingly shaped by advanced technology, human conduct behind the scenes remains under close scrutiny.