On January 7th, 2024, the 81st Golden Globes was aired. The Globes kick off the awards season in Hollywood and honor the best movies and television from the previous year. Comedian Jo Koy was hired to host the 2024 Golden Globes just days before the ceremony, which took place on Sunday at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles, and boy, oh boy, was it a disaster.
Many of his jokes were in bad taste and loaded with sexism or insensitivities. In comparing Barbie to fellow nominee Oppenheimer, Koy said: “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.” Koy also joked that the “key moment” in Barbie was when the famous doll experienced “bad breath, cellulite, and flat feet, or what casting directors call ‘character actor.'”
Viewers pointed out that Koy’s comment ultimately proved the message behind Barbie. “The awkward silence at Jo Koy’s Barbie jokes… He told smart jokes about the other nominees, and all he had about Barbie was ‘big boobs,'” wrote one social media user. Throughout the intro, celebrities such as Selena Gomez, Harrison Ford, Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, and more appeared less than thrilled by Koy’s delivery.
As if his reaction to his monologue wasn’t bad enough, Koy took the opportunity to come for Swift’s love life with a joke after a commercial break. “The big difference between the Golden Globes and the NFL? At the Golden Globes, we have fewer camera shots of Taylor Swift. I swear,” he said as the camera switched to Swift. From the audience, the singer took a sip from her drink while making a face that confirmed she was far from impressed.
