Jo Koy Admits Mistake in Criticizing Golden Globes Writers: 'It Wasn't My Intention'
Comedian Jo Koy unintentionally criticizes Golden Globes writers during his monologue as jokes fail to resonate with the audience
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Jo Koy’s first appearance at the Golden Globes has become a valuable learning opportunity, particularly following his public criticism of certain members of his writing team during his on-stage appearance.
"I absolutely adore my writers. Each one of them holds a special place in my heart and I made sure to give them a shoutout," Koy, 52, expressed to the Los Angeles Times in a profile released on Thursday, January 11th. "I let them know that it was a pivotal moment where I was truly touched. I can't help but talk about them in every interview. They worked incredibly hard. Many seasoned professionals make rookie mistakes, and that was one of them."
He went on to say, "Those writers are truly talented and that was never my intention. They were exceptional, had my back, and I am committed to setting things right. I always will."
On Sunday, January 7th, Koy emceed the Golden Globes. In his opening remarks, he humorously compared the film "Barbie" to its box office competitor "Oppenheimer," which was adapted from an award-winning book. He then referred to the Greta Gerwig-directed film as being based on a "doll with big features." This comment was met with an unimpressed response from the film's director and its leading actors, Ryan Gosling and Margot Robbie. "This gig was only assigned to me 10 days ago. If you want a flawless monologue, keep quiet," Koy declared before continuing, "You've got to be joking. I wrote some of these lines, and they're the ones you're laughing at."
After the event, Gerwig downplayed the Barbie remark in a radio interview, but the divisive speech failed to resonate with the audience. In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, the comedian emphasized that all of his jokes had been approved and agreed upon by his team of writers.
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"It's unbelievable because just the day before, we were all gathered here for the first time, meeting in person to work on that monologue," Koy recounted. "We only had one shot at it. It was intense. We just sat and went over it, discussing suggestions. I even rehearsed it out loud in my office, but without the group feedback and the chance to perform it on stage." Koy concluded, "Considering everything, I believe I did a good job."
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Koy's comment about Taylor Swift during the Globes performance, in which he joked about the awards ceremony having fewer cutaway shots to Swift than NFL games, became a topic of discussion. Swift, who was nominated for her Eras Tour concert movie, seemed visibly annoyed by the reference as she sipped her drink. Koy clarified that his intention was to poke fun at the NFL and not to offend Swift, whom he supports and admires.
