Jimmy Kimmel apologized to Quinta Brunson for his actions during her Emmy win for Writing in a Comedy Series for Abbott Elementary. Before their presentation, Will Arnett dragged Kimmel to the microphone and breathlessly joked that the host had too many low-fat margaritas after losing to John Oliver in the Variety Talk category. Arnett announced Brunson as the winner and as she approached the mic, Kimmel stayed in her character, staying on the floor while giving her acceptance speech (including a thank you to Kimmel).
This did not go down well with many viewers who expressed their annoyance with Kimmel via social media. Speaking to the skit during ABC’s TCA presentations, Brunson’s co-star Sheryl Lee Ralph said:
“I didn’t know what was going on. I was like, ‘I wish it would just get off the ground. Then I realized it was Jimmy, and I thought, ‘Ooh, the disrespect.’ I love Jimmy Kimmel, but I’m sorry. I told him straight to his face and he understood.”
On Wednesday Brunson appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and the two seemed to ruin the situation. At the end of Kimmel’s monologue, with her Emmy Award in hand, Brunson interrupted the host and said:
“You know how, when you win an Emmy, you only have 45 seconds to do a thank you, which isn’t that much time? And then you get less time because someone is doing a stupid comedy that is just a little too long.”
Later in the show, during their sit-down interview, Kimmel apologized to Brunson, saying:
“That was a silly comedy that we thought would be funny. Then people got mad, they said I stole your moment. And maybe I did. I’m really sorry if I did. I did.” done. … The last thing I would ever want to do is upset you because I think about you so much. I think you know that. I hope you do.”
Accepting Kimmel’s apology, Brunson went on to say she was so focused on her first win that she wasn’t bothered by what was going on, before adding that she was “having a great night.”
Abbott Elementary’s First season shines at Emmy Awards
Brunson is the creator, writer, executive producer and star of Abbott Elementary, a mockumentary-style series about teachers at a Philadelphia public school. The freshman season deserved seven Emmy nominations, including Outstanding Comedy Series, Lead Actress in a Comedy Series and Writing for a Comedy Series for Brunson and Supporting Actress/Actor in a Comedy Series for Tyler James Williams, Janelle James and Ralph. With her three nominations, Brunson made history as the first black woman to receive comedy nominations in the acting, writing (for the pilot episode), and series categories and as the youngest black woman ever nominated as an actress in a comedy. The series earned three Emmy wins on Monday, including Brunson, Ralph for Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series and Outstanding Casting For A Comedy Series.
Ralph’s acceptance speech was a highlight of the evening’s ceremony. The actress celebrated her first Emmy win by singing a snippet of Dianne Reeves’. Endangered species. The touching moment was followed by an equally touching speech:
“To anyone who has ever – ever – had a dream and thought your dream wouldn’t, couldn’t, couldn’t come true. I’m here to tell you this is what faith looks like,” she said. “This is what striving looks like. And never, ever give up!”
Ralph plays Barbara Howard, an accomplished teacher who serves (sometimes reluctantly) as a mentor to the young and well-meaning teacher Janine Teagues (Brunson).