Timothee Chalamet’s ‘cringe’ request of Kylie Jenner at 2026 Critics Choice Awards as her ‘awkward’ body language is revealed

Kylie Jenner and Timothée Chalamet arrived fashionably late to the 2026 Critics Choice Awards on Sunday night – but it didn’t stop them from displaying lots of PDA and some ‘awkward’ body language in front of the crowds, according to an expert.

Jenner and Chalamet appeared to skip the red carpet, as they snuck into the awards ceremony looking like an old-Hollywood couple, with the Marty Supreme actor rocking a navy blue, pinstriped suit.

It seemed to be inspired by the 1950s-era costumes that he wore in his latest film, in which he plays a rising table tennis star determined to prove himself against a successful Japanese pro. 

Jenner, for her part, rocked a strappy, black sequined gown by Versace with a sexy lace back.

As he won the award for Best Actor on Sunday, Chalamet even gave an emotional shout-out to Jenner, thanking her for their ‘foundation.’

‘Finally, thank you to my partner of three years, thank you for our foundation. I love you and couldn’t do this without you,’ Chalamet said.

‘I love you from the bottom of my heart,’ he said, as she mouthed back, ‘I love you.’ 

But while they may have grown more comfortable as the night went on, body language expert Judi James suggested that Jenner appeared slightly uncomfortable in the spotlight tonight, with Chalamet leading the way as they entered the ceremony. 

‘Timothee is showing signs of high sociability and excitement here,’ James revealed exclusively to Daily Mail.

‘He walks ahead in his 40’s style pinstripe suit with his cheeks fully rounded in a signal of deep pleasure,’ James continued.

‘His head dips once but is then tilted back and upward with his eyes raised like the incoming star of the night,’ she said.

‘There’s no cool A-list avoidance signals from him here, he looks actively delighted to meet, greet, and mingle in a solo style despite having Kylie’s hand clasped in his.’

However, the same couldn’t be said for Jenner, especially as they sat down at their assigned table. 

‘Kylie looks less assured behind him. Her anxiety is hinted at from the constant and unnecessary-looking auto-contact checking and self-preening rituals as she touches at her hair several times,’ James said.

‘The most powerful tell of a lack of self-confidence comes as she seems to place her thumbnail against her teeth in a self-comfort gesture,’ she said. 

James also noted Jenner’s behavior in another instance, during which she displayed a ‘needy-looking ritual.’

‘In another photo, she is performing a needy-looking ritual by pulling his arm into her body and clasping his hand and his arm with both of her hands to signal closeness and ownership,’ the body language expert explained.

‘Timothee poses for selfies as Kylie arrives at their table and she bends gingerly to sit in her stunning, figure-hugging dress, also posing for a selfie with one of the young stars of the night,’ she shared. 

‘Timothee barely touches her chair before taking his seat and immediately chatting to the man on his other side,’ James noticed.

‘There seems to be little in the way of socializing as a double act here, and when Timothee jumps up quickly to greet someone else, Kylie is left sitting alone with an empty chair on either side, smiling awkwardly and adjusting her cleavage.’

Later in the evening, they were captured posing for photos with the fellow actors at their table, as Chalamet even leaned in for a kiss with Jenner. According to lip reader Nicola Hickling, he had a ‘cringe’ request from her in the moment. 

As they took photos, Chalamet appeared to ask Jenner for a ‘little kiss,’ as Jenner appeared to be talking to someone next to her.

‘I wanted to,’ he said. 

Despite Jenner’s apparent awkwardness earlier in the night, the two were seen cuddling and kissing at the table, as Jenner cradled Chalamet’s head into her arms.

Their appearance at the awards ceremony comes just one day after Jenner supported Chalamet at the Palm Springs International Film Festival, where he was honored for his latest role in Marty Supreme.

The 30-year-old actor received the Spotlight Actor of the Year Award for his portrayal of table tennis legend Marty Reisman in the A24 film Marty Supreme.

The lipkit mogul dazzled in an orange-gold metallic gown that clung to her hourglass figure, and accessorized her sizzling look with delicate jewelry, including a dainty gold bracelet and a diamond ring on her pinky finger.

The two even broke their no-social-media rule, as Jenner took to Instagram to share a picture of her look from the evening.

Chalamet left a string of orange heart emojis underneath the daring picture. 

Chelsea Handler returned as host of the Critics’ Choice Awards for the fourth consecutive year as the star-studded ceremony lights up the Barker Hangar – a glitzy night that regularly signals who’s about to dominate awards season.

Long considered one of the most accurate crystal balls in Hollywood, the Critics Choice Awards have a strong track record of forecasting Oscar glory.

That predictive power was on full display last season, when Anora used its Critics Choice Best Picture win to reassert itself after being shut out at the Golden Globe and SAG Awards, momentum it ultimately carried all the way to the Academy Awards.

It kicks off the awards season, with the Golden Globes set to air on January 11.