Whoopi Goldberg Defends Jo Koy Over Golden Globes Hosting Criticism

Whoopi Goldberg wants the people criticizing comedian Jo Koy to understand that hosting award shows can be brutal.

During Mondays episode  of The View, the talk shows moderator addressed some of the online backlash Koy has received after several of his jokes during Sundays Golden Globes ceremony fell flat with the audience.

If you dont know the room, if youve not been in these rooms before and youre sort of thrust out there, its hit or miss, Goldberg said, adding that Koy is as good as it gets when it comes to stand-ups.

Hosting is not an easy gig, she said, before joking that shes received harsh reviews for her past jobs.

Goldberg certainly has some experience with hosting major ceremonies. She made history in 1994 when she became the first Black person and the first woman to host the Oscars solo, and she has hosted the Academy Awards four times. 

View co-host Sara Haines chimed in during Mondays segment to discuss Koys hosting gig, saying that people should get a sense of humor.

We need to protect these national treasures called our comedians, she said. In that room, Jo Koy is punching up. No one feels sorry just smile.

Several of Koys jokes during the 81st Golden Globes, including his monologue in which he blamed his comedy writers, garnered awkward and icy reactions from the star-studded audience.

One of his most-talked about jokes was his quip about Taylor Swift and the NFLs fixation with the pop star attending football games to support her boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce.

The big difference between the Golden Globes and the NFL, on the Golden Globes we have fewer camera shots of Taylor Swift, Koy said at one point during the ceremony. 

Swift was captured on camera appearing unimpressed by the comedians joke, sipping a drink with a calm, reserved expression. 

Koy told GMA3 the next morning that he felt his Swift joke was a little flat, and that he didnt intend for the singer-songwriter to be the butt of the joke.

I was trying to make fun of the NFL using cutaways and how the Globes didnt have to do that, he said. So it was more of a jab toward the NFL. But it just didnt come out that way.