Los Angeles was home to the Primetime Emmy Awards Sunday night, honoring creatives and talent across the television industry. Yet the ceremony received backlash over a controversy that has marred the show since it first aired in 1949. Anthony Robledo has more on award shows ongoing representation problem.
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What appeared to be a moment for celebration as this year’s Emmy Awards featured more nominees of color than ever, eventually led to disappointment.
Despite performers of color making up 44% of the acting nominations, all 12 lead and supporting acting awards went to white actors.
The result led to a lot of backlash online with many tweeting the hashtag #EmmySoWhite to voice their frustration.
Pop culture critic and USC professor Miki Turner said she was initially pleased with the new record until about an hour into the show when she realized no actors of color were winning. She said the reality indicated that there’s still an imbalance among the voters.
Turner, who has covered diversity in Hollywood since the 90′s, said that the ceremony reinforced the idea that diversity in Hollywood is cyclical. Regardless she agreed with most of the academy’s choices, saying that eight times out of ten, the correct winner is chosen.
TURNER: Now, that said, does there still need to be more cultural diversity in the nominations and subsequently the winners? Yeah, that would be wonderful. But until you change the complexion of the Voting Academy, that’s not likely to happen.
Turner said she is more concerned with the lack of executives pushing for diverse ensemble casts. Award shows merely reflect the industry that lacks cultural inclusion.
TURNER: You’ve got to create opportunities for other people. And by other people, I mean people of color to contribute in a way where we don’t have to really depend on award shows to validate the work.
Joe Saltzman, USC professor of journalism and communication, said the fact that 44% of acting nominees were people of color is worth celebrating. He said there’s nothing anyone can do to predict the winners or fix the election.
Saltzman said there’s no way to prove that discrimination had a role in deciding the winners. Saltzman’s son, Michael Saltzman, is producer of “The Boys” which was nominated for two Emmys.
Saltzman: If I was very upset my son lost, I thought the boys was by far the best dramatic series. So much better than the crowd. But nobody cares about my opinion. I’m not voting in the Academy.
Juliette Bolind, a USC sophomore majoring in cinema and media studies, said that Sunday’s Emmys felt like a step back from what the industry has been working toward.
Although she’s a fan of Netflix’s “The Crown,” she felt Tobias Menzies award for supporting drama actor should of gone to the late Michael K. Williams for his work on “Lovecraft Country.”
Bolind: I feel like Hollywood and its representation only progresses and improves when people speak their minds and when people make their voices heard, especially through social media.
Julia Elizabeth Evans, a graduate student studying film and television production, said the measuring diversity through award shows is misguided. She added that politics and clout impact the decision making process for many award shows.
Evans: We have to be real about the way that these things happen or the way that these award shows work and function, and then just realize that there’s other ways to measure diversity and inclusiveness.
The night wasn’t completely disappointing for people of color as many milestones were made. Michaela Coel won the category for best writing for a limited series. She is the first Black woman to win that category with her series “I May Destroy You,” which tackles themes of sexual assault.
In her acceptance speech, she dared more writers to escape their comfort zone and write stories that scare them.
Producer, actor and dance legend Debbie Allen made history as the first black woman to win the governor’s award at the Emmy’s and executive producer and host Rupaul Charles became the most-awarded black artist in Emmy history.
Update: The story incorrectly stated that Miki Turner said she is more concerned with the lack of executives pushing for diverse ensemble casts. Turner meant that she is more concerned for the way people of color in diverse ensemble casts serve minor roles in the overall narrative.