Jo Koy, a Fil-Am stand-up comedian and actor, was heavily criticized for his hosting gig at the 2024 Golden Globes Awards. 

The comedian admitted it wasn’t his best night. After taking the hosting duties 10 days before the ceremony, Jo Koy told Good Morning America 3 that the criticisms he received have been tough to hear. 

“You know, I’d be lying if [I said] it doesn’t hurt,” Koy said. “I hit a little moment there where I was just like, hosting is just, it’s a tough gig. And, yes, I am a stand-up comic. With the hosting position, it’s a different style.” 

“We just had 10 days to try and write something for this monologue. It was a crash course. And, you know, I feel bad but I gotta still say that I loved what I did.” Jo Koy added.

Despite the criticisms, Jo Koy found support from “The View” hosts Whoopi Goldberg and Sara Haines. 

Whoopi Goldberg, an Oscar-winning actress and a standup comic who is one of the few entertainers to win an EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony), admitted that hosting an awards show can be brutal. 

“These hosting gigs are brutal. They are 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,” said Goldberg, the first black woman to host the Academy Awards. 

The award-winning actress also admitted that she did not get to watch the Golden Globes but she knows that Jo Koy “is as good as it gets.”

“Now, I love Jo Koy, he makes me just 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. I mean if you read any of the reviews of some of the gigs I’ve had where they wished me into the cornfields, die on the vine. I mean, it’s not an easy gig,” Goldberg added.

Sara Haines, an American television host and journalist, stated that she loves Koy and finds him funny. 

“I adore Jo Koy, but I was nervous for him. He’s hilarious, kind, and good. What bothers me is the lack of humor appreciation – comedians are our national treasures. We need to stop restricting them. In that room, Jo Koy uplifts everyone. No need for pity, just smile,” said Haines.

Furthermore, an article written by Vulture stated that hosting the Golden Globes is a tough gig. Andy Samberg, who co-hosted the show with Sandra Oh in 2019, highlighted the challenging environment of the event, describing it as noisy with drunk attendees. The seriousness of high-profile guests and the scrutiny of a large live audience make it daunting. This has led many comedians (Chris Rock, Ali Wong, and the popular duo Amy Poehler and Tina Fey) to decline hosting offers, seeing it as not worthwhile. 

Jack Logan, known for his hard-hitting life realtalks, informative travel videos and funny reviews posted on Facebook stating, “Jo Koy is Golden Globes’ last minute host. He only has 10 days to prepare and watch all the nominated movies, write jokes and try to relate to Hollywood’s humor. His jokes may not be cool for De Niro, Nolan, Swift or Scorsese but he’s got balls made of iron to accept that hosting responsibility. That alone deserves a round of applause.” 

“To make a comparison: Last November, Jimmy Kimmel was announced as the host of the 2024 Oscars, scheduled to take place in March.” Logan added.

Several netizens commented on Logan’s post. One user said, “We love and support our own. But misogynist, sexist, and racist joke at the expense of others doesn’t give a very good taste. If we tolerate and support this wrong doing, it speaks so much about us Filipinos in general. To get out of this mess, simple, just be humble, own up to the mistake, and apologize. Justifying it makes the situation even worst!”

Another Facebook user commented, “A late substitute for a first timer was indeed tough.” 

Meanwhile, Senator Robin Padilla remains a fan of the Filipino-American comedian. 

“Panalo ka maestro jokoy. Nosi nosi balasi. Sino Sino ba sila,” the actor-turned-politiko said in a Facebook post.

“The world is yours. Congratulations my brother Pilipino,” Padilla told Jo Koy.

Jo Koy’s hosting of the 2024 Golden Globes faced severe criticism, with some calling his monologues one of the worst in the award show’s history. Despite the backlash, he received support from fellow entertainers like Whoopi Goldberg and Sara Haines who acknowledged the inherent challenges of hosting such a high-profile event. 

Sources: (1),(2),(3),(4),(5),(6)

---

Also Read: Jo Koy receives criticisms after hosting the 2024 Golden Globes award