“Some other people wrote that one”: Jo Koy Breaks Silence Over His “Cringe” Golden Globes Monologue After Severe Backlash
Comedian Jo Koy broke his silence this week following the mixed reception to his first time hosting the Golden Globes on Sunday night. In the days since the ceremony, Koy’s opening monologue has drawn criticism from some viewers who felt his jokes fell flat with the A-list audience. However, the Filipino American comic says he stands by his performance.
Was Jo Koy’s Monologue Really That Bad?
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Jo Koy directly addressed the negative feedback in an interview, saying “Some I wrote, some other people wrote. I wrote some of those and those are the ones you’re laughing at.”
The comic explained that he only had 10 days to prepare for the hosting gig after being announced on Dec. 21 as a replacement for Jerrod Carmichael.
“You want a perfect monologue? I got the gig 10 days ago!” Koy recalled telling the star-studded crowd when he sensed lukewarm reactions on Sunday night.
While his self-deprecating humor drew some chuckles, many viewers felt uncomfortable watching Koy bomb onstage.
“As a Filipino American, this Jo Koy monologue is like watching a car crash,” one viewer tweeted. Another wrote that Koy “looks like he’s about to have an aneurysm.”
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What Worked and What Didn’t in Jo Koy’s Routine?
Koy relied heavily on inside jokes about nominated films like The Fabelmans and The Banshees of Inisherin that didn’t seem to land with the audience. His repeated references to Robert De Niro’s advanced age also felt stale.
However, the comic scored some laughs when gently roasting A-listers like Kevin Costner, Meghan Markle, and Bradley Cooper. His joke about The Color Purple being “what happens to your butt when you take Ozempic” got one of the biggest reactions of the night.
Koy’s closing line that “white people stole everything” in Killers of the Flower Moon referenced both history and modern show business in a poignant way.
What’s Next for Jo Koy After Mixed Reviews?
While Koy’s first Golden Globes hosting gig won’t make the highlight reel of legendary award show monologues, he deserves credit for a solid effort given the last-minute preparation.
The comic will likely take this experience in stride and continue building his successful stand-up career. Koy has released several popular Netflix comedy specials and recently wrapped a worldwide stand-up tour.
Sunday night was still a landmark for representation, as Koy became only the second Asian host in Golden Globes history. He followed Sandra Oh, who co-hosted in 2019.
Koy said before the show that he hoped to “knock this out of the park” and “move forward” in a positive direction. Though his material was hit-or-miss, that spirit still shone through.
