Jo Koy addressed the backlash he received online after poking fun at Taylor Swift during the 81st Golden Globes. This segment aired on the KTLA 5 Morning News on Jan. 8, 2024.

Swift appeared to be displeased by the dig, which sent the internet ablaze and many slamming Koy’s job as host.

Instead of hiding, Koy joined Sam Rubin on the KTLA 5 Morning News on Monday and talked about the social media reaction.

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The comedian said he’s “still excited” that he “was invited to one of the biggest parties in Hollywood.”

“I’m a comic,” he explained. “A host is different. It’s like those are two different things. It’s not the same element. That’s what people don’t understand in this industry.”

When it came to the Swift joke, Koy said he was confused.

“We didn’t understand why they were upset and we were just like, ‘OK, the joke was NFL.’ [The] NFL is using that for cutaways, which is great, bringing a lot of publicity to the NFL. The joke was like, ‘It’s fewer cutaways to her.’”

He said the material was not mean-spirited on his part.

Koy added that he thought the expression on Taylor’s face may have had little to do with his joke.

“No one’s listening to me on stage! Unless I directly talk to them. Like, if I wasn’t saying ‘Hey Robert De Niro’ and he’s like ‘Oh yes,’” he explained. “Taylor was probably talking about something else, so I don’t know.”

“I love Taylor,” he told Rubin. “It was just a joke about the NFL using cutaways [and] always going to Taylor when people are trying to watch the Chiefs play. That’s all.”

While Koy meant no harm, online chatter surrounding the incident has been anything but kind.

“I think people are taking it the wrong way,” he continued.

He admits the comments do sting.

“Does it hurt? Yes,” he admitted. “I took on a gig that no one wanted to take. We found out that the Globes were getting picked up by CBS two weeks before, they needed a host. There wasn’t enough time to prepare. That’s not an excuse at all. I took the challenge. I tried it. I’m not a host, obviously. I’m a stand-up comic and I love what I do.”

Koy also received criticism for making fun of the show’s writers onstage when his jokes landed flat.

“The poking of the writers, when you’re in that moment, it’s like ‘Hey man, I’ve got to grab something.’”

The comedian also recognized that Sunday night was many people’s first introduction to his material.

“If you want to see who I really am, watch my stand-up specials,” he explained. “You see how I feel about people and where my heart is.”

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In the meantime, Koy said he’s focusing on the bigger picture. Not only was hosting the awards show a big moment for his career, but also his family and Filipino heritage.

He said he’s received a wave of support from his loved ones during this time.

“That’s when you know your real friends are your real friends,” he revealed. “It was great. Everyone in my community, they’ve been reaching out to me and I love it. They’re poking jabs and that’s what they’re supposed to do.”

Koy is currently preparing for his worldwide comedy tour, which kicks off on Jan. 12. And yes, he does plan to address the backlash during his stand-up routine.

“No matter what, I’m not going to let this bring me down,” he said. “I worked so hard for this.”