During this year’s Emmy Awards, Quinta Brunson won an Emmy for her series”Abbott Elementary.” Ordinarily, this would have been a celebration of Black excellence, but what became the most discussed scene from the incident was Jimmy Kimmel’s dramatic onstage presence. Understandably, this made for an awkward debacle and social media users had a few things to say.
During the 2022 Emmys, Will Arnett hauled a passed out Jimmy Kimmel to the stage to present an award. What followed that was an uncomfortable spectacle that left many feeling flabbergasted. Arnett told the audience that “Jimmy couldn’t be here tonight,” and when on to say “This is the 13th time in a row that he’s lost and he just got into the skinny margaritas back there.” The revelation was met with nervous laughter from the audience. When Brunson later took the stage to accept her award, Kimmel was still on stage.
Although the win was a celebration of Black excellence, social media drew the conclusion that the moment was tainted by Kimmel’s stunt, and drew a lot of backlash. This also made a few people to point out the racial implications of Kimmel’s onstage scene.
White male privilege is laying on the ground & expecting a Black woman to just step around you while she accepts her hard-earned award. Fuck Jimmy Kimmel. #Emmys2022
— H. (@cynicaltomorrow) September 13, 2022
CAN SOMEONE TELL THE HUMAN PERSONIFICATION OF WHITE MALE PRIVILEGE THAT IS @jimmykimmel THAT HE IS NOT ENTITLED TO TAKE UP *ALL* THE SPACE—ESPECIALLY WHEN THAT SPACE BELONGS TO @quintabrunson WHO HAD TO LITERALLY NAVIGATE AROUND HIM TO ACCEPT HER HISTORIC #EMMY
Un. be. lievable. pic.twitter.com/Zj2lvYsX38
— Lizzie Hylton (@Liz_Hylton) September 13, 2022
Congratulations to Quinta Brunson for writing the best comedy series I have seen in forever. #Emmys #AbbottElementary
And presenter Jimmy Kimmel, get up, it’s unfunny and rude. pic.twitter.com/poRVOnwk6g— Nancy Wang Yuen (@nancywyuen) September 13, 2022
Brunson has since told The Hollywood Reporter that the situation “didn’t bother me that much.”
“I think in that moment, I was just really happy that it was Jimmy up there,” said Brunson. “I kind of consider him one of the comedy godfathers; I’m a huge fan of Will Arnett, so I was wrapped up in the moment. I don’t know — tomorrow maybe I’ll be mad at him. I’m gonna be on his show on Wednesday, so I might punch him in the face. I don’t know. We’ll see what happens.”
Regardless of Kimmel’s intentions, the whole situation was hard to watch. This was Brunson’s first Emmy win, and that should have been the highlight of the evening. Despite what his intensions were, the Jimmy Kimmel Live! host’s actions took away from Brunson’s shine. It is difficult not to view the unfolding of events from a racial lens. Many times when Black women are celebrated, whether it is in a general 9-5 work day or even in the celebrity world, there is always an element in the background that attempts to take away from the moment, and that is the conversation we really should be having. There is a time and place for everything, and Brunson’s acceptance speech was not the avenue for Kimmel’s mini comedy kit. Regardless, Brunson stunned in a custom metallic Dolce & Gabbana gown with a high thigh slit, and we should be celebrating her for her artistic addition to pop culture. Thankfully, some people still appreciated Brunson’s moment.
Honestly, he didn’t even register for me while she was talking, I was captivated by her speech. We should continue to put the attention on her.
— Isa (@Srry_To_Intrrpt) September 13, 2022
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