Jo Koy mocks ‘soft’ celebrities at first post-Golden Globes comedy show

Less than a week after bombing at the 2024 Golden Globes, host Jo Koy was back onstage doing stand-up, where he called celebrities a bunch of “marshmallows”.

Less than a week after the 2024 Golden Globes, Jo Koy was back onstage doing stand-up in St. Louis, Missouri, where he called celebrities a bunch of “marshmallows” because “they’re soft.”

The American comedian poked fun at the “soft” celebrities who witnessed his Globes monologue first-hand at his first stand-up show since his disastrous turn as host of the award show.

“Lot a marshmallows, man. They’re delicious, but goddamn, they’re soft,” Koy said of his awards show audience.

Host Jo Koy at the Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton. Picture: Getty Images

Taylor Swift’s reaction to Jo Koy’s joke went viral.

Koy’s performance at the 81st annual film and television awards was widely panned.

While his act played heavily into the age-old practice of celebrity ribbing, targeting everyone from Meryl Streep to Taylor Swift, his jokes more often than not fell flat with both attendees and viewers at home.

“The big difference between the Golden Globes and the NFL? At the Golden Globes, we have fewer camera shots of Taylor Swift,” the comedian said.

The camera then cut to Swift in the audience, pursing her lips and looking deadpan.

Taylor Swift’s reaction to Jo Koy’s joke about her.

The joke Koy copped the most flack for, though, was undoubtedly his jab at Barbie.

“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 joke elicited unimpressed reactions from the night’s attendees, including physical grimaces from Helen Mirren and Selena Gomez, as well as seemingly unamused responses from the Barbie cast and crew, including co-writer and director Greta Gerwig and stars Ryan Gosling and Issa Rae.

Greta Gerwig’s film starring Australian Margot Robbie as the eponymous doll won the first-ever Golden Globe for cinematic and box office achievement, hardly a surprise given that it was both a critical hit and box office force with $1.4 billion worldwide.

America Ferrera, Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie at the Golden Globe Awards. Picture: Michael Buckner/ Getty

Although the line sparked global backlash from Barbie fans, who labelled the punchline “sexist”, Gerwig herself co-signed it on BBC Radio on Friday.

“Well, he’s not wrong,” the director said on BBC Radio 4 on Friday. “She’s the first doll that was mass-produced with breasts, so he was right on.”

Approaching his first stand-up gig in the aftermath on Saturday, Variety reported the theatre had a strict “no heckling” policy for Koy’s show.

“I just come from a different time,” the 52-year-old said. “I see the changes that are happening. I get it, but goddamn, can we f***ing laugh at ourselves?”

The outlet reported that the audience roared with applause, and even one spectator shouted, “F*** ‘em!”

He continued: “I got a feeling none of you motherf***ers watched it, and I’m kinda happy. Oh my god. It feels good to live in this country. We get to say what we want to say. Don’t be apologetic about it at all. Be able to … speak your mind.”

“I haven’t laughed in four days. I’m so happy. You guys make me so happy,” Koy told the crowd.