The Golden Globes were on Sunday night, and as many predicted, Ali Wong and Steven Yuen walked off with Best Performance by an Actress/Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television Statuettes for their roles in BEEF.

BEEF also awarded it’s creator, Lee Sun-jin the Best Miniseries, Anthology, or Motion Picture Made for Television. Overall, BEEF was nominated for 13 Awards, and walked away with three.

Charles Melton, the Actor of Mixed Asian background, won for Outstanding Supporting Performance at The Gotham Awards for his role in the feature film, May/December.

Here is his speech at the UNFORGETTABLE Awards –

Great speech.

All of the speeches are great.

Now let’s talk about a moment, from The Golden Globes that was…not quite as great.

The glee with which a lot of people gravitate towards Charles Melton, an exceptionally handsome Mixed Korean man, and the disdain they seem be be showering on Jo Koy, an average looking Mixed Filipino comedian who mostly plays to giant audiences of People of Color, has it’s roots in the uncomfortable truths – which is, unless you are disarmingly attractive as a mixed race person – think Olivia Munn, H.E.R., Nicole Scherzinger, Merle Dandridge, Tyson Beckford, Olivia Rodrigo, and so on – you are going to be in a rough place, both with white people who do not know where to put you AND those with 100 per cent Asian forbears.

In fact, TFP has noticed on the clock app, a glee that is coming from the non-Mixed Asians that seems almost diabolical in their need not just to acknowledge that Mr. Koy had a rough night, but mocking his comedic voice in general. As someone who has hung out with a lot of comedians, this rubs TFP the wrong way.

Everyone can have a rough set. Everyone can misfire. To go after the man’s entire career is not what should happen.

Not all jokes are going to land with all crowds – clearly Mr. Koy is not a comedian who often tells ‘jokes’ – set up, set up, punchline. He is a storytelling comic. He tells stories that his audience – usually mainly People of Color, relate to on some level. His audience is inclusive. He often allies himself with other groups in his crowds, for example pointing out the similarity between Filipinos and Mexicans. Telling Divorced Dads to not fight their ex over child support. Pointing out how his sisters left home early, while he, the only boy, had to be asked to leave by his Mother when he was 28, and then it was just to the garage. He does a lot of bits with his Mom – much as Margaret Cho does when she does standup.

No, his act is not all accents and imitations. That is a punitive take. His standup does rely though, on audience participation.

For example – had he told the joke about Martin Scorsese‘s film, Killers of the Flower Moon to his audience – (What I learned from Killers of the Flower Moon is that white people stole everything) the laughter would have gone on for several minutes. As the person who lifted the story from the book, then centered a white narrative that was, in fact, the killer’s…perhaps Mr. Scorsese (who has lifted from Asian films almost frame for frame aka The Departed) at the Golden Globes were not going to be on board with that.

Hark though – Meryl Streep seemed be fine with him. Robert DeNiro as well.

Taylor Swift, not so much. Which is ok.

This is not about talent – this is about how much white audiences ‘allow POC to flourish’ when they are the focus of the repartee. Jim Gaffigan, very funny standup, was there was laughing, because…he gets it. Why was he there? No idea. TFP is sure someone will tell her. Must have had a comedy special. Ricky Gervais ripped the guests apart and they did not like him either, and yet, he was invited back again and again. White on white crime is allowed. Punching above your weight class?

Could Mr. Koy have done better? Absolutely he could have.

She hopes never to hear the word ‘boobies’ in an award ceremony again – ever. Nor does she enjoy the thought that a man could be seated in one part of the auditorium, whilst his nether regions are long enough to extend to the stage. Sounds incredibly uncomfortable, just think of his tailor.

However, the combination of chilly white gazes and the Asians online condemning Jo Koy is not just a “how very DARE he” kind of thing.

TFP sees it as purist behavior.

TFP has hosted quite a lot, nothing as large as the Golden Globes – but Whoopi Goldberg has. What she had to say, TFP agreed with- Mr. Koy just did not know the room. Hired ten days prior, he did not even get enough time to envision himself knowing the room and writers?

Of course he used them. All Hosts use them.

Mixed race Asian people are applauded when they do well – especially good looking ones – because when we accept awards it is wonderful to acknowledge our Asian parent, throw in a phrase the audience might know, show how Asian we are. Mixed race Asian people who hit the wrong note are instantly ostracized and are alarmingly ‘ not Asian enough’ for Asian Americans. Instantly discounted because of their backgrounds. Perhaps we did not know the right way to cut the fruit, or the hand positions to share alcohol, or did not show deference – and when we give folks, ‘the rep sweats’, the bum’s rush is immediate. Sadly after viewing white reactions – Asians got the ‘rep sweats’. And awaaay he goes….

TFP does not know Mr. Koy, but writing this blog – even when you are not actively writing it – makes you aware of things – like that he invested in the Broadway show HERE LIES LOVE, like he got the film EASTER SUNDAY made, which united well known known Fil-Am actors and lesser known together. He had a sitcom pilot that did not go, and as he mentioned – he has had a few Netflix specials. He is going off on a multi-city tour. Jo Koy is a community guy – he is ‘our’ community guy. He may not host an awards show again, but he may, and let’s just wish him better luck next time and a lot more prep time.

He does belong in Hollywood – it was only those who gatekeep Hollywood that decided he did not belong in the room at the Golden Globes. Meryl said he could stay, Taylor said they were ‘never, ever getting back together‘ with one sip of a drink.

It is all good. It was a good Golden Globes – there was an AAPI Host and there were AA award winners. Many, many firsts. When we can stop counting the firsts, we will have won.

Gatekeeping is not what ‘allies’ is supposed to mean – plenty of comics have failed at hosting before, perhaps hosts should be done away with all together – but till then, let’s all do a better job of allowing the people that have shot their shot, a bit of a grace. Some things did not land – it happens. TFP watched the video a few times now, it was not always the joke, it was that white Hollywood does not find itself funny, and only someone from a ‘higher white’ status, aka British, aka Gervais, is allowed to point it out.

And next time, Hollywood Foreign Press – hire Alec Mapa.

He would have had a great bit with Vanessa Williams, America Ferrara, and Matt Damon ready to go. He could wear a matching Willy Wonka outfit and tap his way into the audience, as he has worked with most of them.

TFP out.