Jo Koy, the Filipino-American stand-up comedian, expressed his feelings of hurt in response to the criticisms he received for his hosting role at the 81st annual Golden Globe Awards on Sunday.
The day following his controversial hosting gig, the comedian expressed regret during an interview with 'Good Morning America 3.'Jo Koy's monologue has sparked criticism from fans and the audience due to jokes that some perceive as misogynistic.
Jo Koy's Golden Globes Hosting Stint
The 52-year-old comedian began by drawing a comparison between two of the most prominent Hollywood blockbusters of 2023 - 'Barbie' and 'Oppenheimer.' He characterized the Margot Robbie film as a story about a doll with exaggerated physical features.
Jo Koy later made a humorous remark about pop superstar Taylor Swift and her frequent appearances on camera during the National Football League games of her boyfriend Travis Kelce.He jokingly pointed out that the NFL and Golden Globes have a distinct difference - the Golden Globes have fewer camera shots of Taylor Swift.
The comedian clarified that the joke was aimed at the NFL and is unrelated to the Grammy-winning singer.He jokingly pointed out that the NFL and Golden Globes have a distinct difference - the Golden Globes have fewer camera shots of Taylor Swift.
The comedian clarified that the joke was aimed at the NFL and is unrelated to the Grammy-winning singer.
Per CNN, Jo Koy admitted that he'd be lying if he said it doesn't hurt. "You know, I hit like a moment there where I was just like, 'ugh.' Hosting is a tough gig. Yes, I'm a standup comic, but that hosting position, it's a different style."
"It was a weird joke, I guess. I was trying to make fun of the NFL using cutaways and how the Globes didn't have to do that. It's more of a jab towards NFL but it just didn't come out that way, you know," Jo Koy further added.
In 2023, Filipinos were the most interested in searching for "Taylor Swift" on Google, so Koy's actions were quite serious. The comedian, who was previously in a relationship with another comedian Chelsea Handler, faced criticism from a Filipino journalist for attributing his lackluster performance to the writers.
Prior to Koy's performance at the Golden Globes, his fans had already raised doubts about his fame, suspecting that he was merely exploiting his Filipino heritage for content. Someone on Twitter/X pointed out that he has been ridiculing the Filipino accent, particularly his mom's, and his way of life as part of his career.
Koy's 2022 film, 'Easter Sunday,' drew inspiration from his Filipino-American upbringing and received criticism for its portrayal of the Filipino culture, being described as "surface level."
Filipino fans were particularly upset about Koy's Golden Globes performance, not only because of the Pinoy-baiting and Swift joke. There is widespread discontent regarding the comedian's tendency to attribute his poor jokes onstage to the writers.
In a tweet, Gretchen Ho, a Filipino news anchor, emphasized the importance of hosts taking responsibility for their scripts.
Local, International Celebs Defend Jo Koy
Amidst the criticism faced by Jo Koy, he found support from a number of renowned celebrities like Whoopi Goldberg, Howard Stern, and local personality John Arcilla.
During an episode of his radio show on January 8, Stern discussed Jo Koy's hosting gig, highlighting the challenges faced by the comedian due to limited preparation time and the lack of interest from Hollywood. The American broadcaster also highlighted that renowned actor Robert De Niro found Jo Koy's punchlines amusing, emphasizing the challenge of performing in a room where individuals are sensitive to being the subject of jokes.
During his performance, Jo Koy mentioned Meryl Streep and compared her to De Niro. He shared that his mother scolded him for not predicting that Streep would win the Golden Globe, as she tends to win awards frequently. A video captured the moment when the esteemed actress burst into laughter at Jo Koy's joke, playfully mimicking the 'Wakanda Forever' hand gesture as instructed by the comedian.
Whoopi Goldberg, renowned for her Academy Awards hosting and impressive collection of EGOT titles, came to the defense of Jo Koy on her show, 'The View,' during Monday's telecast. She described hosting as a challenging role, expressing her admiration for the comedian who she felt successfully hosted the 2024 Golden Globe.
According to the four-time Oscar winner and two-time Golden Globe awardee, "I love Jo Koy, he makes me crazy because he's funny. I don't know whether it was the room, I don't know whether it was the jokes, I didn't get to see it. But I do know that he is as good as it gets when it comes to stand-ups and it is not an easy gig."
Meanwhile, acclaimed Filipino actor John Arcilla also showed his support for Jo Koy by sharing a detailed post on Instagram. He mentioned that Jo Koy's performance at the event was a typical success and praised the comedian for his ability to captivate the audience. Arcilla expressed that Jo Koy's hosting was not as negatively portrayed as some may have suggested, emphasizing the importance of thoughtful feedback.
According to Inquirer.net, Fil-Am singer Kris Lawrence also expressed support for the comedian, saying that Jo Koy's critics will always exist, but Filipinos should take pride in his hosting efforts.
Ogie Diaz, a Filipino entertainment reporter, also came to the comedian's defense, stating that Jo Koy's hosting was satisfactory for him, emphasizing that jokes should not be taken seriously.
Chris Rock, Ali Wong, Will Arnett, Sean Hayes, and Jason Bateman have declined to host the 2024 Golden Globe Awards, citing the current challenges that comedy faces in the political landscape.
