One of the best and worst moments of Monday night’s Emmy Awards was Quinta Brunson winning her first Emmy for Outstanding Writing for Abbott Elementary, then having to give her speech over Jimmy Kimmel’s prone body. As Peridot covered, Kimmel vastly overestimates the public’s interest in his terrible comedy bits and instead of getting up and allowing Quinta to have her historic moment, Kimmel decided to make Quinta’s moment all about him. It was nasty. After she won, Quinta did her winner’s press conference backstage at the Emmys and she was nothing but gracious, calling Kimmel “one of the godfathers of comedy” and talking about how supportive Kimmel has always been of her and her career.
Well, Quinta was always scheduled as a guest on Kimmel’s show Wednesday night. Abbot Elementary’s new season starts next week and of course ABC booked her on Kimmel’s show. It was Kimmel’s turn yet again to make space for Quinta, and he gave Quinta time in his opening monologue to redo her Emmy speech (I’ve cued it to that moment):
Then, as soon as Quinta sat down for the interview, Kimmel apologized thoroughly to her and explained why he was wrong. Quinta was once again gracious and she acknowledged and accepted his apology.
I understand why people were really mad at Kimmel and I was too – what he did was awful. It wasn’t just a stupid comedy bit, it legitimately hijacked Quinta’s big moment. But I also think that everything that happened afterwards was fine/good. I hate that Quinta had to be gracious about it, but I also think she was unfazed for the most part, and I think she truly accepts Kimmel’s apology.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Cover Images.
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- NORTH HOLLYWOOD, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, USA – SEPTEMBER 09: American writer, producer, comedian and actress Quinta Brunson arrives at the Television Academy’s 74th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards Performer Nominee Celebration held at the Television Academy (Academy of Television Arts and Sciences) on September 9, 2022 in North Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States.,Image: 721348111, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Pictured: Quinta Brunson, Credit line: Xavier Collin / Image Press Agency / Avalon
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- WEST HOLLYWOOD, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, USA – SEPTEMBER 10: American writer, producer, comedian and actress Quinta Brunson arrives at The Hollywood Reporter and SAG-AFTRA’s 74th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards ‘Emmy Nominees Night’ held at the Penthouse at 8899 Beverly on September 10, 2022 in West Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States.,Image: 721675690, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Pictured: Quinta Brunson, Credit line: Xavier Collin / Image Press Agency / Avalon
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- 74th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards Performer Nominee Celebration held at the Television Academy (Academy of Television Arts and Sciences) Featuring: Quinta Brunson Where: Los Angeles, California, United States When: 09 Sep 2022 Credit: Xavier Collin/ABACA/INSTARimages.com/Cover Images **North America Rights Only**
It was intensely stupid, and the optics were awful – plenty of people noticed that the only winner he chose to do this to was a black woman, which, even if he did not see that, the viewers did. The bigger issue is that Jimmy is just not funny in most cases and his insistence on inserting himself into a moment where his “comedy” was not needed or appreciated speaks to his character.
I honestly forgot about him because I was focused on her. But yeah, he’s an idiot.
I didn’t watch the Emmys apart from seeing Amanda Seyfried win and also tipsy Jennifer Coolidge so I got to see her dance off to Hit the Road Jack lol. But I saw this later and I was very annoyed for Quinta who has every right to call out Jimmy and be stern with him. I think because she’s so new to the scene (I know she was on Buzzfeed and well known on Youtube and while I’m familiar with a lot of Buzzfeed personalities, I had never heard of her), she probably feels like she has to be gracious which I hate.
He started with the ol’ non-apology and self-corrected in real time: “People thought I did this, maybe I did, I’m sorry if I did, I did.”
I still think his stunt was inexcusable and his apology was self-absorbed and insufficient. But maybe this is why I don’t watch his show.
Agreed. Duh, dude, you did it. But this bro apologizing/giving her time is better than I’d expect from him anyway.
I didn’t watch this year so I only saw the responses to this. Yeah, it was stupid. I don’t find Jimmy that funny. But I also think he’s a decent guy and realized he screwed this up. I guess that’s comedy. Sometimes you do it wrong. The great ones do it wrong less frequently. Jimmy is not one of the great ones.
That decent guy used to do skits in blackface on his show.
Exactly. Blackface.
And he is also a misogynist, describing The Man Show as “a joyous celebration of chauvinism”. Where his co-host stated “Oprah needs to do a little less brainwashing, and a little more sock washing!”
No-one should ever be given credit for pivoting (publicly) because they’re re-branding to have a more mainstream career.
You only have to look at who he hangs out with – whitemansplainer Damon and harrasser Affleck. The truism “Show me your friends and I’ll tell you who you are” comes to mind.
I’ve avoided Kimmel’s stuff for a long time and won’t be giving him a view by clicking on that.
I listen to the Keep It podcast and co host Louis Virtel is a writer for Kimmel. He seems decent and Ira Madison III keeps him on his toes so I hope this is addressed and the writer’s room feels ashamed of what happened.
🙄 Black women always have to be gracious to maintain working relationships and networks. Some ppl on Black Twitter photoshopped him out and the difference is so startingly. It dawned on me that whenever people use footage of her acceptance he’ll be in the frame. They even played her off because his dumb bit ate into her speech time. Atrocious
You’re so right – the fact that he cut into her time should not have been held against her.
I did watch the do-over on Kimmel – I appreciate that the cameraman made an obvious point of keeping Kimmel out of her shot as much as possible, and self-corrected whenever she moved. They at least worked to make up for the whole debacle.
Black women always have to be gracious. She had a right to tell off if she wanted to. What he did was terrible
I would have been seriously tempted to kick him a bit. That would have been even more drama, though.
What a lovely person and a class act. He doesn’t even deserve to be in her presents. Good for her and I wish her continued career success!!
Kimmel is a guy who learns. I think he’ll remember this lesson.
But Quinta is beyond gracious.
Quinta is amazing. I could watch whatever she does all day long — she’s so funny and lovely and talented. Lucky us that we get to watch her talent in action for years to come.
(Treating Kimmel here as the afterthought he is.)
Classy lady!
She’s adorable! And classy. More power to her.