Jo Koy’s Golden Globes monologue made waves for all the wrong reasons.
In the world of Hollywood award shows, laughter is considered a universal language and a tool wielded by comedians to bring levity to prestigious events. However, the 2024 Golden Globes witnessed a comedic performance that left viewers and attendees alike uneasy and questioning the boundaries of comedy.
Amidst a flurry of controversies surrounding the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), the 81st annual Golden Globes aimed to reclaim its relevance on Jan. 7 after NBC declined to broadcast the show in 2022. A 2021 Los Angeles Times exposé reported there were zero Black within the HFPA, which is comprised of 87 international journalists who determine the nominees and winners of the awards. In 2018, claims of sexual assault were also levied by Brendan Fraser against former HFPA President Philip Berk.
In response to these criticisms, the HFPA announced a series of initiatives aimed at addressing its shortcomings. These included efforts to increase diversity within its hip, implement more stringent ethical guidelines, and enhance transparency in its decision-making processes. Against this backdrop, Koy’s hosting role took on added significance, representing an opportunity for the Golden Globes to showcase a renewed commitment to inclusivity and integrity.
Unfortunately, Koy’s monologue severely missed the mark, overshadowing the potential for meaningful change for the show. The comedian’s attempt at humour proved to be not only cumbersome and contentious, but profoundly uncomfortable, setting a tone for the night that struggled to resonate with both the audience and viewers at home.
Koy opened his monologue with a series of jokes that leaned heavily on the age-old tradition of poking fun at celebrities, taking shots at everyone from Robert De Niro to Taylor Swift. His jokes often failed to land, leaving everyone unimpressed and creating many moments of awkward silence.
Arguably, his worst joke of the night was about Barbie.
“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,” he said. “The key moment in Barbie is when she goes from perfect beauty to bad breath, cellulite, and flat feet. Or what casting directors call character actor!”
The joke didn’t exactly land well with the audience, prompting visible discomfort from attendees like Harrison Ford and Selena Gomez, coupled with what appeared to be less-than-thrilled reactions from the Barbie film’s cast and crew, including director Greta Gerwig and stars Ryan Gosling and Issa Rae.
This shot is so brutal, as if someone from the control room knew Jo Koy was gonna bomb hard after the Barbie joke they made sure to get a wide shot of the audience. #GoldenGlobes pic.twitter.com/u78k5vBS4l
— Dwight De Leon (@newsdwight) January 8, 2024
Rather than doubling down after the joke bombed, Koy got defensive, blaming his writers and the lack of time he had to prepare for the show.
“Yo, I got the gig 10 days ago, you want a perfect monologue? Shut up… I wrote some of these, and they’re the ones you’re laughing at,” he said in an off-script moment.
I can’t tell what’s worse: if he didn’t watch Barbie and was just making jokes about it, or if he did watch the movie and the entire premise just went right over his head. If that’s the case, it adds a whole other level to the disconcerting nature of his monologue.
not surprised that a man said that but how did you watch barbie, see this scene, and still come to the conclusion that it’s about “a plastic doll with big boobies” https://t.co/WsDwBFvGd4 pic.twitter.com/FaMPfmrr46
— Laila 🩵 (@sosick_ofmyself) January 8, 2024
Clearly in panic mode, Koy began to lose his comedic timing. As he found himself repeating punch lines, he hesitated to fully embrace his jokes. Even a relatively innocuous joke about Taylor Swift which should have gone over fine fell flat, largely due to Koy’s nervous laughter during his delivery.
What might have been a funny reaction shot of an unamused Swift taking a sip from her glass was undercut when Koy awkwardly added, “I’m sorry about that,” further highlighting the uneasy atmosphere.
Sure, it was slightly distasteful, but it’s nothing we as an audience haven’t seen before. Celebrities such as Taylor Swift attend these events knowing they’ll likely be the punchline of a joke or two.
However, if these were Koy’s best jokes, I’m curious to see what didn’t make the final cut for his opener.
While comedy is inherently subjective and comedians often push boundaries, it’s essential to consider the impact of humour on a diverse and discerning audience. The debate extends beyond personal taste; it delves into the responsibilities that accompany the privilege of holding the microphone and standing centre stage at a major awards ceremony.
On a night meant to mark the Golden Globes’ triumphant return and commitment to change, Koy’s monologue left a lasting impact for all the wrong reasons, leaving lingering questions about the award show’s ability to navigate its way back into the good graces of both the industry and the viewing public.
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