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Jo Koy's mom defends son from Golden Globes backlash

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Bev Llorente | TFC News Nevada

<figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Flc5WysIat4?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div><p>The mother of Filipino-American comedian Jo Koy has come to the defense of her son following backlash over his hosting of this year&#x27;s Golden Globes.</p><p>Josie Harrison told ABS-CBN News&#x27; North America Bureau that she was hurt when she learned about the negative comments on her son.</p><div><a data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0" data-loopstyle="linkonly" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/01/08/24/jo-koy-brings-mom-joke-to-open-golden-globes" id="LPlnk" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/01/08/24/jo-koy-brings-mom-joke-to-open-golden-globes">Jo Koy brings &#x27;mom&#x27; joke to open Golden Globes</a></div><p>&quot;If you love somebody and you know they&#x27;re hurt it hurts me [too],&quot; she said. &quot;I know that Joseph tried his best during that night. So, I am with my son no matter what.&quot;</p><p>Harrison said that in a way, she understood the demanding nature of Jo Koy&#x27;s task.</p><p>As a previous endorser herself, she said there was also the need to meet expectations of those who paid for the products promotion.</p><p>She added that the episode is a reminder of how one cannot please everybody.</p><p>&quot;It&#x27;s not so easy to be able to speak (in front of the audience) like that,&quot; said Harrison in Filipino. &quot;It&#x27;s not easy being a comedian like my son. The job of a comedian is they try to make you smile, to make you laugh. That was Jo Koy&#x27;s job that night.&quot;</p><p>Several veteran comedians and on-air personalities, among them Steve Martin, Whoopi Goldberg, and Kevin Hart – have rallied to the defense of Jo Koy and his performance that night.</p><p>Jo Koy himself admitted that hosting the awards was a &quot;tough gig&quot; but added that it was still a moment that he would always remember.</p><div><a data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="1" data-loopstyle="linkonly" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/01/09/24/jo-koy-on-hosting-golden-globes-a-tough-gig" id="LPlnk" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/01/09/24/jo-koy-on-hosting-golden-globes-a-tough-gig">Jo Koy on hosting Golden Globes: &#x27;A tough gig&#x27;</a></div><p>Harrison also expressed regret that many of the criticism on her son came from their fellow Filipinos.</p><p>&quot;I feel sad especially when I see that the source of naysayers are Filipinos,&quot; she said. &quot;I told him (Jo Koy), don&#x27;t be so concerned about the naysayers. You cannot please everybody, not even in normal life.&quot;</p><p>Harrison added that the AAPI community should instead take pride that Jo Koy represented Filipinos in the best possible manner.</p><p>“Jo Koy is a Filipino and he was doing it for the sake of the Asian group,&quot; she said. &quot;And I know he was proud of that.&quot; </p><div><a data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="2" data-loopstyle="linkonly" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/ancx/culture/spotlight/01/09/24/opinion-on-jo-koy-and-gatekeeping-filipino-identity" id="LPlnk" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="https://news.abs-cbn.com/ancx/culture/spotlight/01/09/24/opinion-on-jo-koy-and-gatekeeping-filipino-identity">OPINION: On Jo Koy and gatekeeping Filipino identity</a></div>

The mother of Jo Koy comes to the defense of her son following backlash over the comedian's hosting of the Golden Globes.