Jo Koy just made history as the first Filipino-American to host the Golden Globes, but it might not be a moment worth remembering for the comedian.
The stand-up personality filled large shoes as the host of the 81st Golden Globe Awards held on January 7 in Los Angeles, California (January 8 Philippine time), following the end of the actors’ strike and the scandal-wrought past of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. After potential hosts turned down the gig–including the likes of Oscars host Chris Rock and Ali Wong–it was Jo Koy who eventually took on the mantle.
However, it seems that the audience and netizens weren’t all-too pleased with some of the quips made by the host, which ranged from Barbie jokes to remarks about Taylor Swift, who was present in the room. Ahead, see the notable gags Jo Koy made and the internet’s eyebrow-raised reactions.
LIST: 5 Times 2024 Golden Globes Host Jo Koy’s Jokes Didn’t Land, According to the Internet
1. Meryl Streep and “Wakanda Forever”
Veteran actress Meryl Streep has been a mainstay in decades of award shows, so it isn’t quite a surprise when hosts acknowledge the star’s presence. Jo Koy started this with his trademark impression of his Filipino mom (“It’s Meryl Streep, stupid. She wins every time!”).
Later on in the monologue, Jo Koy also prompted Meryl to do her own take on Black Panther’s “Wakanda forever” salute, which some netizens thought bordered on “cringey.”
2. “Barbie” and “big boobies”
The comedian met the ire of viewers when he made a quip about the Barbie-Oppenheimer tandem “Barbenheimer,” with Barbie getting the short end of the stick.
“Oppenheimer is based on a 721-page Pulitzer Prize-winning book called The Manhattan Project,” Jo Koy remarked. “Barbie is on a plastic doll with big boobies.” The camera panned to a seemingly unamused face of director Greta Gerwig.
Many had felt that the “sexist” joke undermined the message of the hit 2023 film.
3. When Jo Koy “threw his writers under the bus”
Throughout the monologue and in between some jokes, Jo Koy also peppered quips about his writers. “The key moment in Barbie is when she goes from perfect beauty to bad breath, cellulite, flat feet. Or what casting directors call ‘character acting,’” the comedian said in jest. “Some [of these jokes] I wrote, some other people wrote.”
The Fil-Am host also referenced the reportedly last-minute gig, after receiving a lukewarm response from the audience. “Yo, I got the gig 10 days ago. You want a perfect monologue? Yo, shut up,” he said. “I wrote some of these, and they’re the ones you’re laughing at.”
Netizens commented that it seemed that the comedian “threw his writers under the bus.”
4. Taylor Swift and the NFL
Among the audience was musician Taylor Swift, who received nods for her momentous concert film Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour. Jo Koy also took a jab at her romance with football player Travis Kelce and her much-publicized appearances during the games of the Kansas City Chiefs tight end.
“The big difference between the Golden Globes and the NFL [National Football League]? At the Golden Globes, we have fewer camera shots of Taylor Swift.” However, the camera panned to a straight-faced Taylor, who simply took a sip of her drink in response.
5. Robert De Niro and his "greatest performance"
Actor Robert De Niro was also the subject of a Jo Koy joke of the night, when the comedian addressed the 80-year-old’s newborn baby with girlfriend Tiffany Chen. “Your last performance has got to be the greatest performance ever,” Jo Koy said. “How’d you get her pregnant at 80?”
While the actor responded with a light laugh, some internet users cited it as “tasteless.”
What did you think about Jo Koy’s Golden Globes hosting stint? Let us know in the comments!
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