When Laughter Lingers: Jo Koy’s Golden Globes Embarrassment

Examining the repercussions of a joke that left more than just laughter in its wake

From stand-up to stir-up, the 2024 Golden Globes Ceremony took an unexpected turn when American actor and comedian Jo Koy, known for his stand-up comedy and hosting roles, expressed his contentious remarks in the limelight of hosting the event, receiving mass backlash as a result. Indeed, the Golden Globes has been no stranger to controversy, and Jo Koy’s scathing commentary on audience members and even the royal family has since amassed heated debate on the ethics of his hosting gig. Jo’s nuanced speech reveals greater implications for award ceremonies at large.

Informed of his role as host ten days before the event, Jo Koy planned to use the center stage to poke fun at and critique celebrities like popstar Taylor Swift and actor Margot Robbie. However, following a series of failed jokes and satirical remarks, the room fell into awkward silence and stilted laughter: Jo Koy’s series of jabs had fallen flat. Beyond being lackluster and drab, Jo Koy’s jokes also carried great controversy regarding his propriety at the ceremony. Jo’s jokes ranged from rude comments about The Color Purple and it being “what happens to your butt,” to political satire on the royal family, claiming that “Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will still get paid millions of dollars for doing absolutely nothing––that’s just Netflix;” Koy even made sexual comments about Saltburn star Barry Keoghan.

While many of the victimized celebrities brushed off Jo’s comments with nonchalant smiles and unfazed demeanors, almost everyone in the audience expressed visible repugnance towards his sadistic comment on Barbie. Serving as the nadir of his humorless monologue, Jo acknowledges that “Oppenheimer is based on a 721-page, Pulitzer Prize-winning book about the Manhattan Project,” and that “Barbie is on a plastic doll with big boobies.” The joke not only raised eyebrows but also garnered mass criticism for its sexist misrepresentation of the film’s intended message, seemingly contradicting the whole point of the movie. Jo attempted to account for the insensitivity of his joke by claiming that he “got the gig 10 days ago” and arrogantly questioning the audience: “You want a perfect monologue? You’re kidding me, right?” In these defensive remarks, it is clear that Koy acknowledges his failure and seemingly imputes the fiasco to his writers.

In this age of digital media, the backlash was swift and intense but interestingly had a diverse range of responses. Firstly, Jo Koy’s remarks towards the white community had left many viewers criticizing his monologue, with some even boycotting the next Golden Globes for allowing Jo’s comments to be aired. Moreover, many celebrities have since taken to social media platforms such as Twitter and Instagram to express their disappointment with Jo Koy’s remarks. Yet many celebrities went on to defend Jo Koy, empathizing with him in the challenging nature of his job and acknowledging the sensitivity of the Golden Globes. Most importantly, social media has since given rise to a rampant questioning of these controversial and “woke” speeches and their necessity in driving viewership for award shows. 

While Jo’s quips and contentious monologue sparked great opposition, they also provoked important discussions on pressing social issues that go beyond the celebrity world. Although not intended, Jo has seemingly leveraged the Golden Globes as an influential platform to elevate awareness and engagement for the underlying issues behind his humor. With this, he has highlighted another facet of award shows beyond their superficial prestige: their propulsion of social change. As the entertainment industry continues to evolve and address social issues, instances like these stand as reminders of the responsibilities that come with being in the spotlight, even in the realm of comedy. 

Bryan Dong