Last night, all 12 major acting prizes went to white actors, prompting the creation of the #EmmysSoWhite Twitter hashtag. The white actor sweep was the result of Emmy voters favoring familiarity and caution, particularly with Ted Lasso and The Crown. "The lack of surprises and the academy’s aversion to more risky choices meant that the Emmys took a step back when it came to racial diversity," says Lorraine Ali. "No performers of color won in any of the comedy, drama or limited series categories despite some of the strongest contenders in years. And it was nearly two hours into the show when the first person of color stepped onstage to receive an award. RuPaul made Emmy history for the most Emmys won by a person of color when RuPaul’s Drag Race landed the outstanding competition series honor for the fourth consecutive year." Ali adds: "The lack of Black, Latinx and Asian winners was at odds with the lineup of the night’s presenters, who without the awards painted a picture of a diversified Hollywood. Taraji P. Henson, Kerry Washington, Angela Bassett, Mindy Kaling and Ken Jeong were among more than a dozen people of color who opened envelopes and called out winners’ names. The ceremony opened with a tribute to the late rapper Biz Markie, who died this year, and music by Run DMC and the Notorious B.I.G. was spun by DJ Reggie Watts as presenters walked on and off camera, and as the show went to commercials. Poor Patrick Stewart looked confused. The race questions the Emmys inevitably stirred detracted from what was another groundbreaking year for women in television. When Jessica Hobbs of The Crown and Lucia Aniello of Hacks won, they became the first women to sweep both the comedy and drama directing categories."
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TOPICS: 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards, CBS, Award Shows, Diversity, Emmys, Television Academy