Los Angeles, California – Greta Gerwig, the director of the highly successful film “Barbie,” doesn’t appear to be bothered by the controversy surrounding a joke made by host Jo Koy at the 2024 Golden Globes. Koy received negative reviews for his hosting performance, and his “Barbie” joke sparked backlash on social media, with many viewers accusing him of being derogatory and sexist towards the film.
During his opening monologue, Koy playfully compared Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” to Gerwig’s “Barbie,” joking that “‘Oppenheimer’ is based on the 721-page Pulitzer Prize-winning book about the Manhattan Project — and ‘Barbie’ is about a plastic doll with big boobies.” Although many Golden Globes viewers found the joke tasteless and unnecessary, Gerwig had a different perspective when asked about it in a radio interview.
While speaking on BBC Radio 4 Today, Gerwig commented, “Well, he’s not wrong. She’s the first doll that was mass-produced with breasts, so he was right on. And you know, I think that so much of the project of the movie was unlikely because it is about a plastic doll…The insight that Ruth Handler had when she was watching her daughter play with baby dolls is she realized, ‘My daughter doesn’t want to pretend to be a mother. She wants to pretend to be a grown woman.'”
Despite the controversy, “Barbie” emerged as a huge success and made history by winning the first-ever Golden Globe for cinematic and box office achievement. The film generated $1.4 billion worldwide, making it the highest-grossing movie of 2023 and the top earner in Warner Bros.’ history.
Reflecting on the win, Gerwig expressed her emotional connection to the film and the desire to connect with audiences in theaters. She described receiving the box office achievement award as fitting and a testament to the team’s goal of sharing an experience with moviegoers.
While “Poor Things” took home the award for best motion picture comedy or musical at the Golden Globes, “Barbie” remains a strong contender for multiple Oscar nominations. The film recently received four Screen Actors Guild Award nominations, including outstanding ensemble cast in a motion picture.
Following the Golden Globes, Jo Koy appeared on “GMA3: What You Need to Know” and acknowledged that he “fell short” as a host and had an “off night.” Koy took responsibility for his performance and recognized the audience’s disappointment.
In summary, despite the controversy surrounding the “Barbie” joke made at the Golden Globes, Greta Gerwig has expressed a more positive perspective, acknowledging the accuracy of the joke while highlighting the film’s unconventional nature. “Barbie” achieved both critical acclaim and significant box office success, solidifying its place as the highest-grossing film of 2023 and earning the first-ever Golden Globe for cinematic and box office achievement. The film’s success has positioned it as a frontrunner for Oscar nominations and has further cemented Gerwig’s reputation as a talented and influential filmmaker.