Photo Credit: Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
Quinta Brunson Responds to Jimmy Kimmel Lying on Stage During Emmy Win
While accepting her first Emmy, Abbott Elementary star Quinta Brunson had to step over Jimmy Kimmel, who pretended to be unconscious.
Jimmy Kimmel is facing backlash for laying on the floor while Quinta Brunson received her first Emmy. On Monday night (September 12), Brunson won in the Outstanding Writing For a Comedy Series category, making her the second Black woman to win in the category after Lena Waithe in 2017. Brunson also received nominations for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series and Outstanding Comedy Series as the executive producer of Abbott Elementary.
As Brunson took the stage, comedian and talk show host Jimmy Kimmel laid flat on the stage, to which Brunson attempted to poke him "awake." "Jimmy, wake up, I won," Brunson joked. "Jimmy? Okay, hold my phone."
Brunson went on to thank ABC, Disney, Fox and Warner Bros along with showrunners Justin Halpern and Patrick Schumacker before crediting the mentorship of Larry Wilmore, “for teaching me to write television as well as he did.”
\u201cQuinta Brunson addressed Jimmy Kimmel laying on stage during her #Emmys acceptance speech: "I felt like the bit didn\u2019t bother me that much...Tomorrow maybe I\u2019ll be mad at him. I\u2019m going to be on his show on Wednesday, so I might punch him in the face." https://t.co/Bm8Bfhyi0k\u201d— Variety (@Variety) 1663039869
While Brunson may have taken Kimmel's stunt in jest, her fans weren't as humored, going to social media to speak out on the comedian's "white privilege."
\u201cstealing someone else\u2019s moment is so weird. white people really hate seeing Black people win and they often pass it off as jokes or incompetence. fuck your, jimmy kimmel. you owe quinta an apology and $5m for reparations!\u201d— 5hahem aka Dr. Durag (@5hahem aka Dr. Durag) 1663040296
\u201cJust a reminder of how Jimmy Kimmel doesn\u2019t seem to be able to let Black folks shine in really important moments. #Emmys\u201d— April (@April) 1663041617
\u201cThank you @jontaoht for taking Jimmy Kimmel out the shot \ud83d\udc97. Go awf Quinta\u201d— George M Johnson (Gar\u00e7on) (@George M Johnson (Gar\u00e7on)) 1663040005
Backstage, Brunson joked about the onstage incident, also referring to her upcoming appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!
“I don’t know...I know Jimmy Kimmel. The bit didn’t bother me,” she said. “Honestly, Jimmy gave me my first big late-night spot, he was one of the first people to see Abbott Elementary. He was the first person to message me on Instagram. He was so excited it was going to be on ABC. I was happy it was Jimmy. He’s one of the comedy godfathers. Tomorrow maybe I’ll be mad at him.”
The second season of Abbott Elementary premieres on September 21.
