Whoopi Goldberg Defends Jo Koy’s Golden Globes Hosting Amid Mixed Reviews
In the aftermath of the 2024 Golden Globes, veteran entertainer Whoopi Goldberg has come to the defense of Jo Koy, the comedian who faced a range of reviews for his hosting performance during the awards ceremony on Sunday night.
Goldberg, a four-time Oscars host herself, expressed empathy for Koy on the Monday episode of “The View,” emphasizing the challenging nature of hosting gigs. “These hosting gigs are brutal — just brutal,” she remarked, shedding light on the difficulties faced by hosts, especially when navigating unfamiliar rooms and audiences.
While acknowledging that she did not witness Koy’s performance firsthand, Goldberg praised the stand-up comedian, stating, “I do know that he is as good as it gets when it comes to standups. That is not an easy game.”
The EGOT winner also humorously reflected on her own past hosting experiences, acknowledging the harsh critiques she received. Goldberg’s co-host, Sara Haines, expressed nervousness for Koy, while Alyssa Farah Griffin shared her admiration for the comedian, speculating that Koy’s inherently nice persona might make roasting less natural for him.
Despite some of Koy’s jokes receiving mixed reactions, the comedian expressed a willingness to host the Golden Globes again, preferably with more preparation time. CBS had announced Koy as the host in a press release on December 21, giving him a tight schedule of just 10 days to prepare.
During the awards show, Koy went off-script during the opening monologue, attributing the challenges to his short preparation time. Despite facing a lukewarm response to certain jokes, Koy swiftly navigated back to his routine, making light of the situation with humor and resilience. As the discussions about Koy’s hosting continue, it remains to be seen if he’ll take on the role again in the future.