In a moment that blended professional triumph with personal revelation, Timothée Chalamet captured attention at the 2026 Critics Choice Awards with both his artistic achievement and emotional vulnerability. The 30-year-old actor secured the Best Actor honor for his compelling portrayal in ‘Marty Supreme,’ representing his inaugural major victory of this awards season.
During his acceptance speech, Chalamet delivered a stunning public acknowledgment of his relationship with Kylie Jenner, explicitly referring to her as his “partner of three years” before concluding with a heartfelt “I love you.” Cameras immediately shifted to capture Jenner’s visibly emotional reaction, with the 28-year-old reality television star and business mogul visibly mouthing “I love you, too” in response.
The actor approached the podium with noticeable humility, opening his remarks with: “I’ve got a lot of people to thank and I don’t know if I’ll be up here again,” admitting to greater nervousness than anticipated. He generously praised his fellow nominees as “an ultra-talented, hard-working group” before focusing his gratitude on director Josh Safdie’s unconventional storytelling approach in ‘Marty Supreme.’
Chalamet specifically commended Safdie for crafting “a story about a flawed man with a relatable dream” that refrained from moral preaching to audiences. The film, which chronicles the journey of a self-centered ping-pong prodigy, has garnered significant critical acclaim, with Chalamet’s performance being hailed as among the most powerful of his evolving career.
This victory assumes particular significance as Chalamet prevailed against formidable competition including Leonardo DiCaprio (‘One Battle After Another’) and Michael B. Jordan (‘Sinners’), substantially enhancing his prospects for upcoming Academy Award consideration. The evening thus represented both a professional milestone and a personal watershed moment as Chalamet chose Hollywood’s spotlight to validate his long-rumored relationship with Jenner.