Fans defend Robert De Niro after Golden Globes host Jo Koy takes aim at him becoming a father again aged 80

Fans rushed to defend Robert De Niro at the Golden Globes after host and comedian Jo Koy made a risky joke at the actor's expense.

You talkin’ to me?

Robert De Niro, one of the most well-respected actors in the Hollywood, made an appearance at the 81st Golden Globes last night (7th January) and unexpectedly caught playful heat from host Jo Koy.

The actor was seated with his girlfriend, 45-year-old Tiffany Chen, at the lavish event as he was nominated for Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture for Flowers of the Killer Moon – but lost out to Robert Downey Jr, who scooped the award for his role in Oppenheimer.

As for hosting the event, Jo Koy couldn’t help but take a tongue-in-cheek swipe at De Niro’s personal life - which comes after the actor welcomed his seventh child back in April 2023 at the age of 79.

Koy, who has named De Niro has one of his heroes, saw his moment and took it, turning to the actor in the crowd and addressing him with praise.

“This guy’s amazing - decade after decade - he just kills it every single time. I don’t know how you do it," Koy said.

“Man. I swear to God, your last performance is going to be your greatest performance ever,” he added, before dropping the punchline: "How’d you get her pregnant at 80?"

CBS

"CGI?” Koy then asked De Niro, who chuckled from his seat.

As much as the father-of-seven seemed to take it on the chin and laugh along, some fans seemed less than impressed with the comedian.

“Such tasteless jokes,” one twitter user wrote, while a second added: "Jo Koy’s not very funny. I changed the channel."

But De Niro doesn’t seem to let the media affect him as a new father of an 8-month-old at the age of 80, as he seems pretty content with life, telling The Guardian it’s not him who does the ‘heavy lifting’ when helping out with his baby daughter.

“It doesn’t get easier. It is what it is. It’s OK,” he said at the time.

Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images for IHG Hotels & Resorts

“I don’t do the heavy lifting. I’m there, I support my girlfriend. But she does the work. And we have help, which is so important.”

He continued: “With a baby, it’s different [than] with my 11-year-old. My adult children. My grandchildren. It’s all different.”

When asked if he’s enjoying fatherhood, he replied: “Of course I do. [I am happy with] all of it.”

UNILAD has reached out to De Niro’s reps for comment, but didn’t receive a reply at the time of publishing.