Jo Koy, 52, is set to host the 2024 Golden Globe Awards on January 7, so all eyes will be on him. The comedian, who previously made headlines for his relationship with Chelsea Handler, has gained a lot of recognition in the comedy world and has even had a few Comedy Central and Netflix specials over the years. He’ll surely be using some of his best jokes when he’s on the big stage in front of some of the entertainment industry’s biggest stars on Sunday.
Jo was first announced as the host of Golden Globes on December 21, 2023. It’s the 81st year of the annual event and with some of the biggest television and film stars up for honors, it’s highly anticipated.
Get to know more about Jo and his background before he takes on his epic hosting gig below.
Jo Koy Started Out Telling Jokes in Coffee Shops
Born June 2, 1971, Jo, whose full name is Joseph Glenn Herbert Sr., got his first laugh when he performed in a coffee shop called Buzzy’s Cafe in Las Vegas, per Esquire. “There was no plan B. I was going to be a comic, no matter what. So even just getting that one little laugh that night was everything to me,” he told the outlet. He would go on to become such a huge stand-up talent, he regularly breaks attendance records, including the most consecutive sold-out shows for a comedian, according to his website.
Jo Turned Down a Full-Time Gig on Chelsea Handler’s Show
Jo made 140 appearances as a season regular roundtable guest on Chelsea’s talk show Chelsea Lately, per his website. He was even offered a full-time gig, but turned it down. “I didn’t want to be known as the sidekick. I knew if I took that on, I would be known as Chelsea Handler’s guy on the side,” he told The Daily Beast. “I didn’t want to be Andy Richter or Ed McMahon. I wanted to be Jo Koy.”
Jo Dated Chelsea for Around a Year
The couple went public with their romance in September 2021. “Do you know how hot it is to have a man be turned on by my honesty, strength, and confidence?” Chelsea wrote on her Instagram in November of that year. “Jo has restored my faith in men.”
The pair were friends for a “long, long time” before they decided to turn their relationship into a romantic one. “Chelsea and Jo are so in love,” a source revealed to Hollywoodlife EXCLUSIVELY in October 2021. “They are cutely obsessed with each other.”
The adorable pair were extremely supportive of each other, as Jo accompanied Chelsea to the 2021 People’s Choice Awards during their romance. It was their first red carpet affair together as a couple. “This is the best time of our lives and it just keeps getting better. Congratulations love you deserve all the flowers,” Jo wrote on his Instagram after Chelsea won the People’s Choice Award Award for Best Comedy Tour.
Jo and Chelsea announced their breakup, which happened in June 2022, in July 2022. “There were just some behaviors that we couldn’t agree on, and it felt to me like I would have to abandon myself—which maybe I would have been OK to do if I were 20 or 25—but I wasn’t willing to do that,” Chelsea said about the breakup in December 2022, per Entertainment Tonight. “No matter how much I loved this person, and I loved him so much, I was not going to abandon myself.”
He’s a Dad
Jo welcomed a son, Joseph Herbert Jr., during a previous relationship with Angie King in April 2003.
Jo Has Starred in Movies
Jo revealed iconic director Steven Spielberg saw his Netflix comedy special, was a huge fan of it and brought him in for a meeting. “They were like, ‘Steven wants to make a movie with you. Do you have any ideas?’ I pitched the idea and they bought it in the room. And here we are,” he explained to Esquire. “It’s called Easter Sunday. It’s basically a day in the life of me on Easter Sunday. Filipino family. Culture. Chaos. Everything. It all takes place on one day. So that’s what we’re doing right now. It’s gonna be all Filipinos, by the way.”
Easter Sunday came out in August 2022. Jo stars in the main role of Joe Valencia. He has also starred in other films, including Haunted Mansion, The Monkey King, and Leo.