While hosting the 2024 Critics Choice Awards, Chelsea Handler took a light-hearted jab at Jo Koy by incorporating one of his Golden Globes 2024 monologue jokes, which had faced criticism. Playfully acknowledging the aging appearances of veteran actors Harrison Ford and Robert De Niro, she jokingly said, “I can’t decide who’s hotter between you two; you’re both total smoke shows.” Adding a humorous touch, she commented, “Sadly, Martin Scorsese couldn’t make it tonight, but that won’t stop me from letting everyone in this room know that I would toss him around like a little Italian meatball.”

With a playful grin, Handler continued, “Thank you for laughing at that. My writers came up with it.” The audience, including many who had attended the Golden Globe Awards, responded with extended applause.

Jo Koy Defends his Golden Globes Monologue

During his hosting duties, Koy used the line as a comeback when his joke about the Barbie movie received a lukewarm response from the audience at this year’s Golden Globes. Onstage, he explained, “I got the gig just 10 days ago. You’re expecting a flawless monologue? Come on, slow down. I wrote some of these jokes, and those are the ones getting laughs.”

Koy faced public scrutiny for jesting that the awards show featured “fewer camera shots of Taylor Swift” than the NFL, eliciting no response from the singer. The comedian expressed to People later that night his willingness to give hosting another shot with better preparation time.

Jo Koy Addresses Controversial Joke

A few days later, Koy admitted it was a “rookie move” to attribute the controversial joke to his three writers. Speaking to the Los Angeles Times, the comedian clarified, “Those writers are amazing, and that was not my intention at all. They had my back, and I need to make sure I fix that, and I will, I always will.”