Jo Koy feels misunderstood, ‘hurt’ over Taylor Swift, ‘Barbie’ joke backlash

Jo Koy attends the 81st Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton on January 07, 2024 | Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images/AFP

LOS ANGELES – Jo Koy has opened up about feeling misunderstood and “hurt” over the backlash he received for his jokes about Taylor Swift and the feminist film “Barbie.”

“What hurts the most is me just supporting Taylor, I support her, I love her work. I got nieces that I bought tickets for. There’s no ill intent in that joke,” Koy told the LA Times in an interview.

“The joke is about the NFL and how they keep using cutaways to [her]. I’m not saying anything that no one’s saying, and it’s obvious what that joke was. It’s about the NFL. It’s like out of everything that has happened this is the one you choose to go after.”

Koy also addressed comments about her “Barbie” joke, which has been branded by many on social media as “sexist” and “mysoginistic.”

“The things that are being said, it’s just like, man, I don’t think you understand who I am as a person, you know what I mean? Because if you’ve ever seen me, you’ll see just how much I praise and shine light on women, from my ex-wife to my mom,” Koy said.

“I’m telling a joke – what happened to society where we can’t even joke with each other anymore. I bought the movie. I supported the movie. Yes, that’s the story that that doll needed. And I’m glad because now there’s people that look like my mom that can support that.”

Jo Koy’s mom sent him a ‘beautiful’ text

The Fil-Am comedian turned emotional when asked what his Filipino mom, Josie Harrison, said about his Golden Globes hosting gig.

“It’s so beautiful to be getting a text from my mom. It’s just the true definition of a parent, you know, and that’s who I need to always make my first role model,” Koy said.

“[She sent] just a beautiful text, “so proud of you.” As a mom, she’s protective and she understands because she knows who her son is, and that’s a beautiful thing.”

Koy said talking about his mom during his shows was his way of making her “shine” and feel appreciated.

“I want to be able to make my mom feel beautifully badass because that’s exactly who she is. And I want her to be appreciated and I want her to shine,” he said.

It was also his way of giving back to her mom, who raised him and his siblings “during a horrible time” for the family, Koy said.

“I’m not saying that it’s not horrible now, we’re always gonna go through this, but let’s not forget the past and what our parents and our grandparents had to go through. It was f— horrible. And I’m just happy that I have a platform where I can make her shine and be appreciated.”

Jo Koy will most likely continue making his mom shine as he brings his real-life material to his fans next month when he kicks off his world tour at the Kia Forum on Feb. 16 and 17.