Filipino-American comedian Jo Koy stepped onto the Golden Globes stage on Monday with high hopes only to find himself in hot water and facing disapproval.
Jokes fell flat, celebrities remained unimpressed, and the internet buzzed with negativity. Jo Koy broke his silence and said, “I feel bad.”
Speaking on ABC’s GMA3, the stand-up comedian acknowledged the rough reception, emphasizing that “it was a hard job” and “[hosting] is just a tough gig.” While he had moments of fun and cherished the experience, he admitted the criticism stung.
During his opening monologue, the Golden Globes host commented on Hollywood movies Saltburn, Ozempic, Oppenheimer, and Barbie, in which Vanity Fair’s Richard Lawson found his opening monologue to be “a horrid, sophomoric mishmash of lazy jokes.”
“I had fun. You know, it was a moment that I’ll always remember. It’s a tough room. It was a hard job, [but] I’m not going to lie…I’d be lying if [I said] it doesn’t hurt,” he confessed.
“Hosting is just a tough gig. Yes, I’m a standup comic but that hosting position it’s a different style. I kind of went in and did the writers’ thing,” Jo Koy added.
He also pointed out that the pressure was undoubtedly more immense. With only ten days to prepare, Jo Koy faced a challenge beyond most stand-up gigs.
“We had 10 days to write this monologue. It was a crash course. I feel bad, but I got to still say I loved what I did.” he continued.
Referring to the part where he put the spotlight on American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift, the comedian clarified that the joke was for the NFL but not meant for the pop star herself.
“I think it was when the Taylor [Swift] one was just a little flat…It was a weird joke, I guess. But it was more on the NFL. I was trying to make fun of the NFL using cutaways and how the Globes didn’t have to do that. So it was more of a jab toward the NFL. But it just didn’t come out that way,” explained Jo Koy.
Despite the backlash, Koy maintained a sense of pride.
“I wanted to give a little bit more of me and it just fell a little short, and that’s all,” he said.