The 81st Golden Globes on Jan 7, 2024 had sparked some controversy. On Sunday the Golden Globes had about 9.4 million viewers and many heard of host Comedian Jo Koy’s anti-feminist remarks later on social media. Not only the comments made by the host, but the interview questions before, and even how the cameras would cut to certain people. Even the after reaction of people saying things like “you can’t say anything nowadays” or “this generation is sensitive” shows the real views of society. Even with so much change in feminism events like the golden globes can prove how change is still needed and understanding should be welcome.
Koy made a comment about Taylor Swift and her boyfriend Kansas City Chiefs Tight end, Travis Kelce. Koy said “The big difference between the Golden Globes and the NFL? On the Golden Globes, we have fewer camera shots of Taylor Swift.” Immediately the camera flips to Taylor Swift which shows her making no reaction except sipping her drink. Of course the swifties jumped up to defend her claiming the joke was overall not funny nor creative. Soon people started to say Swift and her fans were overreacting. Another normal reaction from a woman labeled an “over reaction”. Sparking up the whole idea of a man can react but a woman can only overreact.
Jo Koy has now spoken out in an ABC article about what his joke was supposed to mean. In the ABC article, Koy says “The Taylor one was just a little flat and you know, it was a weird joke, I guess, but it was more on the NFL. You know what I mean?” Koy continued. “I was trying to make fun of the NFL using cutaways and how the Globes didn’t have to do that it was more of a jab towards the NFL but it just didn’t come out that way.” Koy also speaks out on how it was a lot of pressure getting the Host gig 10 days before the Golden Globes saying it was a “Tough room” and “ a hard job.”
But what seems to be an even bigger problem is the further comments made about the Barbie movie. The Barbie movie released July 7, 2023 has been a pretty big hit which many people could relate too. The Barbie movie follows themes of sharing the way women are mistreated, the need for feminism all around, this movie discusses everyday problems women have to face and unmasks a huge anti-feminist attitude the world is currently struggling with. Of course there are going to be different opinions on the Barbie movie, but the comments made at the Golden Globes are hard to excuse because of short time or bad writing. Koy goes on to say “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!” In the audience you could hear the straight up disappointment. Some clips even showed actors like Meryl Streep, Selena Gomez, Ryan Gosling, and many of the Barbie cast, all looking very unamused. Koy then gets defensive, and tries to excuse the joke. “Yo, I got the gig 10 days ago, you want a perfect monologue?” “Yo, shut up. You’re kidding me, right. Slow down. I wrote some of these, and they’re the ones you’re laughing at.” Fans didn’t expect a perfect monologue but further objectifying women and a movie which specifically touches on Feminism and Objectifying is frankly not funny nor whitty.
While many fans understand the controversy others take to social media claiming “Comedy is Comedy” or “People can’t take Jokes.” The point is Barbie was a movie which touched on many important issues and for koy to diminish it down to female appearance and body parts. Unfortunately this proves where society stands with treating women and feminism in general. This could be a lesson for the Golden Globes to rethink comedians hosting.
