Embattled Jo Koy found an ally in American comedian Steve Martin in the wake of the controversial Golden Globes ceremony held recently.
Jo Koy has been harshly criticized for his hosting of the prestigious and star-studded event, with many taking to social media to voice out their unflattering thoughts about the Filipino-American stand-up comic.
From being called "boring" to "not funny" and "a disaster," Jo Koy's stint as host of the Golden Globes simply was not his finest hour as a performer based on public reaction.
Read: Netizens slam Jo Koy's hosting of Golden Globes 2024
"NOT FOR THE SQUEAMISH"
Steve offered a perspective far removed from the sentiments of critical netizens.
“I tip my hat to anyone who steps out on stage to host a live awards show. It’s a very difficult job and not for the squeamish. I know because I’m still throwing up from the last time I did it in 2010,” wrote Steve on Threads.
Steve hosted the Academy Awards in 2001 and 2003.
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The 78-year-old Steve gave props to Jo Koy for taking on the assignment despite the odds.
He even joked with certainty that the experience would find its way to Jo Koy's future skits and stand-up monologues.
Steve remarked, “So, Congratulations to Jo Koy, who took on the toughest gig in show business, hit, missed, was light on his feet, and now has twenty minutes of new material for his stand up!”
Steve's thoughts mirrored Jo Koy's statement in the American daytime news program What You Need To Know a day after the event.
Read: Jo Koy on Golden Globes gaffe: "I feel bad."
"It was cool the opportunity came to me, but hosting is just a beast," said Jo Koy.
"I’d be lying if [I said] it doesn’t hurt … Hosting is just a tough gig."
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But it wasn't just Steve who voiced out support for Jo Koy following the much-publicized Hollywood event.
"Hosting gigs are brutal," said actress Whoopi Goldberg, whose experience as a host included stints in the Tony Awards and Academy Awards.
"They are just brutal. If you don’t know the room, if you’ve not been in these rooms before and you’re sort of thrust out there, it’s hit or miss."
Whoopi made the comment on the show The View aired on January 9, 2023.
She added, "I don’t know whether it was the room, I don’t know whether it was the jokes, I didn’t get to see it.
"But I do know, that he is as good as it gets when it comes to stand-ups and it is not an easy gig."
Whoopi was the first black woman to host the Academy Awards, just as Jo Koy became the first Filipino-American to host the Golden Globes.
Comedian Kevin Hart also defended Jo Koy, calling him "talented" and a "funny f**king guy."
Kevin told the Daily Mail, “I think Jo Koy is an amazing comedian, always has been."
Like others who had experience hosting major award shows, Kevin stressed how difficult the job is given the amount of public attention they get.
“It's a tough room, and without the knowledge and understanding of how to navigate a room — you can have some moments, some bumps," mused Kevin.
"People want to highlight the world of bad but Jo will be good and always has been.
"I love Jo, I can't wait to see what else Jo does; industry or not industry, he’s made it this far, [and] he will make it after."
Meanwhile, radio personality Howard Stern talked about the short preparation time afforded Jo Koy as a recipe for failure.
Howard mentioned Jimmy Kimmel had six months to prepare as host for the Academy Awards.
“Nobody wanted to host this thing," said Howard in his program on SiriusXM.
Continued Howard, “Ten days? You’re doomed! Telling those jokes to a bunch of people who don’t wanna be laughed at is the biggest bummer in the world.
“Hollywood has no sense of humor about itself. Comedians are supposed to be funny. And the only way to be funny is to be cynical.
"So why would you want to go to an event where you can’t be cynical?”