The 2024 Golden Globes unfolded with its customary glitz and glamor, but amidst the elegance, Jo Koy’s hosting performance stood out for all the wrong reasons. As the host this year, Jo Koy delivered the expected monologue, yet his remarks stirred controversy due to sexist jokes aimed at the Barbie movie.
“‘Oppenheimer’ is based on a 721-page Pulitzer Prize-winning book about the Manhattan Project,” Koy remarked, “And ‘Barbie’ is based on a plastic doll with big boobies”. This joke reduced the profound message of the Barbie movie, which challenges stereotypes, to superficial jests about dolls.
It’s questionable whether Koy truly grasped the essence of the movie, especially considering his comments. The Barbie movie, starring Margot Robbie as Barbie and Ryan Gosling as Ken, delves into themes of self-discovery within Barbieland and the real world, all against the backdrop of an existential crisis. Beneath its seemingly superficial exterior, the film carries a poignant message about patriarchy and feminism.
Koy’s apparent lack of understanding mirrors broader societal issues, shedding light on how men sometimes fail to recognize the struggles women face against patriarchal norms, a central theme of the Barbie movie. The film transcends its toy origins to explore the challenges women encounter as they assert themselves in a male-dominated society. Regrettably, Koy’s jokes only perpetuate the very system the movie seeks to critique.
The controversy sparked a wildfire of opinions across social media platforms. An influencer known as Mocheala Hutton on TikTok said “Jo Koy’s sexist joke was literal(ly) the reason the Barbie movie was made. Can’t wait for his apology tomorrow.”
To add insult to injury, the catchy song “I’m Just Ken” won an Oscar, competing against songs from Greta Gerwig’s film Barbie: Dua Lipa’s “Dance The Night”, and Billie Eilish’s “What Was I Made For?”. Essentially, the only song sung by a man in a movie about feminism won the award.
What does this say about our society? You can decide for yourself.
