The responsibility of a host extends beyond merely guiding an event’s flow; it encompasses the delicate balance of engaging the audience while steering clear of controversy. In the recent Golden Globes, Jo Koy’s hosting, intended to be a night of laughter, inadvertently became a source of criticism both within the venue and across digital platforms.
One particular incident that ignited backlash involved Koy’s delivery of what many deemed misogynistic jokes about the Barbie film. The cast’s response, met with silence from the audience, marked this moment as one of the most criticized of the night. Termed by Time as the “worst Golden Globes joke,” Koy remarked, “Oppenheimer is based on a 721-page Pulitzer Prize-winning book about the Manhattan Project, and Barbie is on a plastic doll with big boobies … The key moment in Barbie is when she goes from perfect beauty to bad breath, cellulite, and flat feet. Or what casting directors call a character actor!” The camera panned out to capture the visibly unimpressed face of Barbie’s co-writer and director, Greta Gerwig.
Another incident that drew ire involved Koy’s remarks about Taylor Swift. Koy pointed out the apparent scarcity of camera shots featuring Swift compared to the coverage given to the NFL. This touched on a subject Swift had previously addressed when football fans complained about her presence during Travis Kelce’s games. In an interview ahead of the Golden Globes, Swift clarified that she attended the games solely to support Kelce and was unaware of her visibility on the screens. Koy’s joke, aimed at a topic Swift had already expressed discomfort about, was met with the global superstar’s stoic expression and a sip of her drink.
Acknowledging his off night, Jo Koy admitted that he signed onto the hosting gig merely 10 days before the event, offering an explanation for what some perceived as lackluster material. “Some [jokes] I wrote, some other people wrote,” the stand-up comedian explained after a joke fell flat. “Yes, I got the gig 10 days ago! You want a perfect monologue? Yo, shut up. You’re kidding me, right? Slow down, I wrote some of these, and they are the ones you are laughing at.”
Despite Koy’s explanation, many netizens argue that, as the host, he bears a responsibility for the impact of his jokes. Being mindful of the potential misogyny or insensitivity in his remarks should be a top priority, especially when entrusted with the task of maintaining the evening’s positive momentum.
