THE 2024 Golden Globe Awards was a night filled with jokes as Filipino-American stand-up comedian Jo Koy hosted the highly anticipated event. Some of his remarks made viewers laugh but others fell flat.
One of his jokes that wasn’t well-received was when he poked fun at the appearances of American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift at the National Football League (NFL) games.
“As you know, we came on after a football doubleheader,” said the comedian, as the 2024 Golden Globe Awards was aired right after the game between the New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles.
“The big difference between the Golden Globes and the NFL. On the Golden Globes, we have fewer camera shots of Taylor Swift, I swear,” he continued.
But Jo Koy’s attempt to lighten the mood apparently did not sit well with the pop star who was part of the stellar audience.
Swift attended the award show because the movie version of the headline-making “Eras Tour” was nominated for the new Cinematic and Box Office Achievement, a new category at the Golden Globes Award that aims to honor blockbuster films.
In response to the joke, the renowned singer gave the comedian a straight face. She was seen pursing her lips and taking a sip of wine when the camera panned to her.
Jo Koy then quickly said onstage, “Sorry about that.”
Swift has been seen attending Kansas City Chiefs games to support her boyfriend Travis Kelce, the team’s tight end.
It was in December 2023 when the “1989” singer confirmed the real score between her and the football player, during an interview with Time magazine which named her Person of the Year for 2023.
‘Embarrassing’
The NFL joke earned the ire of some netizens, with some saying that it was “embarrassing.”
Several X (formerly Twitter) users also said they did not find the comedian, known for his Pinoy-related jokes, funny. Others described his jokes about Filipino accents as mockery.
Jo Koy’s response
In an interview with “Good Morning America,” Jo Koy responded to the criticisms he received after his hosting stint at the Golden Globes.
“I’d be lying if [I said] it doesn’t hurt. I hit like a little moment there where I was just like, ‘ugh.'” he said.
He continued, “Hosting is a tough game. Yes, I’m a stand-up comic but that hosting is a different style. It’s not the same style.”
During the awards show, Jo Koy told the crowd that he got the hosting job “only 10 days” before the actual ceremony.
“I kind of went in and did the whole writers’ thing. We were all in that room together. We just had 10 days trying to write something for this monologue,” he said.
“It was a crash course and, you know, I feel bad, but hey, I gotta still say that I loved what I did,” he added.
Jo Koy recalled his NFL joke when asked if there was a specific moment during the awards show that he felt “went off the cliff.”
“The Taylor one was just a little flat and I just–it was a weird joke, I guess, but it was more on the NFL,” he clarified.
“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,” he added. “It just didn’t come out that way.”
Jo Koy made history as the first Fil-Am to host the prestigious awards show. Describing his experience, the comedian said he had fun but “it’s a tough room and it was a hard job.”
The 81st edition of the Golden Globes was held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 7, 2024.
