LOS ANGELES (AP) — Comedian Jo Koy delivered a biting joke about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle during his hosting debut at the Golden Globe Awards. The Filipino-American comedy star, who took on the role just two weeks ago, did not hold back in his comedic roast at the annual awards ceremony, which honored notable figures in film and television.
Koy’s joke targeted Harry and Meghan’s lucrative deal with Netflix, suggesting that they were getting paid millions of dollars for doing nothing. The camera even panned to the CEO of Netflix, Ted Sarandos, who smiled at the joke. However, both Harry and Meghan were absent from the ceremony.
The joke referred to the couple’s Netflix documentary, “Harry & Meghan,” released in 2022, which received mixed reviews. The documentary explored their decision to step back as working members of the royal family.
After facing several challenges professionally and personally in 2023, the former royals have had a tumultuous year. While Harry’s memoir, “Spare,” became a bestseller, their other ventures, including a podcast with Spotify called “Archetypes,” did not prove successful. The podcast was dropped after less than a year, and the couple’s deal with Spotify was terminated.
Additionally, their charity organization, Archewell, experienced a significant plunge in donations of nearly £10 million in one year. This setback followed the release of their charity’s annual report and a promotional film showcasing their charitable efforts.
At the Golden Globes, the film “Oppenheimer” took home multiple awards, while the TV show “Succession” and the film “The Bear” also won big. Koy’s joke about singer Taylor Swift and comedian Jim Gaffigan’s controversial quip about the unsealed Jeffrey Epstein court records also generated attention at the ceremony.
In summary, Jo Koy drew laughs and raised some eyebrows with his witty joke about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at the Golden Globe Awards. The couple’s Netflix documentary, their unsuccessful ventures, and their charity’s donation plunge were notable factors that the comedian referenced in his comedic roast.