Criticism of Jo Koy's opening monologue , host of the 81st Golden Globe Awards Host
Jo Koy's opening
monologue was met with criticism from viewers and critics with many describing his jokes as "cringeworthy", "painful", and "unfunny". Chelsey Sanchez of ''
Harper's Bazaar described the monologue as "awkward" and "distasteful". Koy was also criticized for putting blame on his writers during the monologue, coming after the lengthy 2023 Writers Guild of America strike. Justin Curto of Vulture'' noted that when some of his jokes fell flat, Koy "immediately threw his writers under the bus... He yelled. 'Yo, shut up. You're kidding me, right. Slow down. I wrote some of these and they're the ones you're laughing at. Marlow Stern of
Rolling Stone noted that many of Koy's jokes drew "groans" and "boos" from the audience. Among jokes that drew the most ire were those about the film
Barbie, and attending nominees
Robert De Niro,
Meryl Streep and
Taylor Swift; the latter's reaction went viral. Shirley Li of
The Atlantic wrote: "Practically every joke failed to land, mostly because the punchlines were dated or obvious." Nicole Sperling of
The New York Times, who was in the audience that night, wrote that she had "never seen an audience rebel against an emcee so quickly" and cited a prominent film director describing the monologue as a "disaster". Conversely, four-time
Academy Awards host and comedian
Whoopi Goldberg defended Koy on
The View, saying: "These hosting gigs are brutal. They're just brutal. If you don't know the room, if you've not been in these rooms before and you're sort of thrust out there, it's hit or miss. Now, 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." Actor and comedian
Steve Martin also threw his support behind Koy on
Threads, writing: "I tip my hat to anyone who steps out on stage to host a live awards show. It's a very difficult job and not for the squeamish. I know because I'm still throwing up from the last time I did it in 2010. So, Congratulations to Jo Koy, who took on the toughest gig in show business, hit, missed, was light on his feet, and now has twenty minutes of new material for his stand up!" Additionally, comedian
Michael Che supported Koy by writing that "comedians should boycott hosting award shows" on
Instagram. When questioned about Koy's jokes aimed toward her film
Barbie, director
Greta Gerwig replied that she was not offended. On
Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, actor and comedian
Kevin Hart said he has "no reaction" to the backlash and went on to praise Koy for being a "phenomenal comedian". In a
Facebook post by Filipino actor and comedian
Michael V., he posted: "I think Jo Koy's Golden Globes jokes are funny, direct, and pretty much self-explanatory. The last thing Jo Koy should be doing is trying to explain it to people who purposely choose NOT to understand and appreciate them." Koy responded to the criticism in an interview with
Good Morning America, admitting: "I'd be lying if [I said] it doesn't hurt," but also admitted, "I had fun. You know, it was a moment that I'll always remember. Hosting is just a tough gig. Yes, I'm a stand-up comic, but that hosting position it's a different style. I kind of went in and did the writer's thing. We had ten days to write this monologue. It was a crash course. I feel bad, but I got to still say I loved what I did." In his first stand-up set afterward, Koy mocked the Hollywood celebrities, alluding: "Lot a marshmallows, man. They're delicious, but goddamn, they're soft. I just come from a different time. I see the changes that are happening. I get it, but goddamn, can we fucking laugh at ourselves?" ==See also==