‘Emmys So White’?! Outrage Erupts as Actors of Color Are Shut Out of Every Major Acting Category.
The 78th Emmy Awards are facing a wave of criticism after performers of color failed to take home a single award across the ceremony’s major acting categories during Monday night’s event in Los Angeles.
The debate intensified after Variety’s Clayton Davis branded the ceremony “Emmys So White Part 2,” reviving a controversy that surrounded the awards in 2021. Davis highlighted that all 12 acting prizes presented during the ceremony went to white performers.
The lack of diversity was also reflected in this year’s nominations. According to Davis, just 17 actors of color received nominations across the lead and supporting acting categories—a 39 percent drop from the 28 nominees recorded in 2025.
The Beast in Me star Matthew Rhys, who made Emmy history with his win, and Pluribus actress Rhea Seehornultimately claimed trophies, beating out several high-profile contenders, including Euphoria star Zendaya and Beef’s Oscar Isaac.
Among actors of color, only Ernest Harden Jr. of The Pitt and Octavia Spencer took home Emmy honors for on-camera or voice performances this year. Harden Jr. won Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series, while Spencer was recognized as Outstanding Narrator for her work on Lost Women of Alaska.
Neither of those victories, however, was featured during Monday’s televised ceremony. Their awards were presented earlier at the Creative Arts Emmys, held two weekends before the main event.
With no performers of color taking home a major acting prize during Monday night’s broadcast, viewers took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to express their frustration, with some reviving the phrase “Emmys So White” to describe the results.
One of the biggest points of contention was Paradise star Sterling K. Brown losing the Lead Actor in a Drama Series award to The Pitt’s Noah Wyle. Fans flooded social media arguing that Brown was more deserving of the honor, particularly as Wyle had already won the same award at the 2025 Emmys.
Rhea Seehorn claimed the Emmy for Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her performance in Pluribus, edging out strong contenders including Euphoria star Zendaya and The Testaments actress Chase Infiniti.
Meanwhile, some viewers argued that Abbott Elementary star Janelle James, a five-time Emmy nominee, was long overdue for recognition. James lost the Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series prize to Widow’s Bay breakout star Kate O’Flynn, prompting fans to question whether James had once again been overlooked.
In the drama supporting actress race, The Pitt’s Sepideh Moafi was defeated by The Diplomat star Allison Janney, who added another trophy to her résumé and became an eight-time Emmy winner.
Task star Tom Pelphrey won Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, prevailing over contenders such as Pluribus actor Carlos-Manuel Vesga.
In the comedy categories, Jean Smart continued her Emmy dominance, securing her fifth consecutive Lead Actress in a Comedy Series award for Hacks. Her victory came at the expense of Abbott Elementary creator and star Quinta Brunson and The Bear actress Ayo Edebiri.
Matthew Rhys was another major winner of the night, taking home two Emmys, including Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for his role in Widow’s Bay. Among those competing in the category was Wonder Man star Yahya Abdul-Mateen II.
Keeping Widow’s Bay’s momentum going, Stephen Root took home the award for Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, beating out The Four Seasons star Colman Domingo and Abbott Elementary’s Tyler James Williams.
The Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie category also drew attention, as no actresses of color were among the nominees. The award ultimately went to Remarkably Bright Creatures star Sally Field.
In the corresponding lead actor category, non-white performers Oscar Isaac of Beef and Riz Ahmed of Bait were also left without the top prize, with The Beast in Me star Matthew Rhys taking the award.
The controversy echoes the backlash surrounding the 2021 Emmys, when a record 49 non-white performers received acting nominations but none ultimately won. At the time, actors, fans and activists accused the television academy of moving “backwards,” with the hashtag #EmmysSoWhite gaining traction as critics challenged the ceremony’s lack of diversity.
The 78th Primetime Emmy Awards were held Monday at the Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles.
Law & Order: SVU star and executive producer Mariska Hargitay took on hosting duties for the star-studded ceremony, marking the first time in 15 years that a woman has hosted the event.
The biggest triumph of the 2026 Emmy Awards belonged to Apple TV’s horror-comedy series Widow’s Bay, which delivered a near-perfect sweep. Leading star Matthew Rhys also made Emmy history, becoming the first actor to win two lead acting awards in different categories on the same night.
On the drama side, The Pitt continued its impressive run, taking home both Outstanding Drama Series and Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for Noah Wyle. The HBO Max series repeated the same victories it achieved at last year’s ceremony.
But Widow’s Bay quickly established itself as the night’s breakout powerhouse, winning all six categories in which it was nominated, including the coveted Outstanding Comedy Series award.
The series defeated a formidable comedy lineup that included Abbott Elementary, The Bear, Hacks, Margo’s Got Money Troubles, Nobody Wants This, Only Murders in the Building, and Shrinking.
Set on the fictional New England island of Widow’s Bay, the dark comedy follows a community plagued by a centuries-old curse that unleashes a series of supernatural threats upon the island.
Alongside Rhys, Widow’s Bay stars Kate O’Flynn and Stephen Root also collected major acting honors, winning the Outstanding Supporting Actress and Outstanding Supporting Actor awards in the comedy categories.
However, it was Rhys who emerged as perhaps the evening’s biggest individual winner. His historic double victory made him the first actor to claim two leading acting Emmys in different categories during a single ceremony.
Rhys made Emmy history by taking home not one but two major acting prizes. He won Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for his role in the Apple TV series Widow’s Bay, before also claiming Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for The Beast in Me earlier in the evening.
In Widow’s Bay, Rhys plays Tom Loftis, the mayor of the fictional island community. Originally from the mainland, Tom is initially doubtful of the locals’ beliefs surrounding the island’s mysterious curse. He is also a widower and the father of Evan, his son with his late wife, Lauren.
In the psychological thriller limited series The Beast in Me, Rhys takes on the role of Nile Jarvis, the son of a powerful real estate tycoon. Nile moves next door to Aggie Wiggs, played by Clare Danes, in Oyster Bay, Long Island, seeking a quieter and more secluded life with his second wife. His arrival raises disturbing questions, particularly amid allegations that he was responsible for the death of his first wife.
Meanwhile, The Pitt captured the evening’s biggest drama prize, winning Outstanding Drama Series after leading all shows with an impressive 25 nominations.
The HBO Max medical drama faced strong competition from The Diplomat, The Gilded Age, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, Paradise, Pluribus, Slow Horses, and Your Friends and Neighbors.
Set in a Pittsburgh hospital, The Pitt follows healthcare professionals as they navigate demanding shifts while dealing with personal struggles, workplace tensions and the emotional burden of caring for critically ill patients. The series highlights the resilience and dedication required in one of the most challenging professions.
The first acting Emmy of the night for The Pitt went to Noah Wyle, who took home the coveted Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series award.
The 55-year-old actor prevailed over a competitive field that included Sterling K. Brown for Paradise, Gary Oldmanfor Slow Horses, Mark Ruffalo for Task, and Rufus Sewell for The Diplomat.
In The Pitt, Wyle portrays Dr. Michael “Robby” Robinavitch, the central character of the series. His character grapples with trauma, PTSD and lingering psychological effects following the COVID-19 pandemic while navigating the pressures of working in a busy hospital.
Meanwhile, Rhea Seehorn scored one of the evening’s major victories, defeating fellow nominee and global superstar Zendaya to claim the coveted honor.
The 54-year-old actress won Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series at the 2026 Emmy Awards for her acclaimed performance in Pluribus, adding another major achievement to her career.
Jean Smart also continued her remarkable Emmy streak, winning Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for the fifth consecutive year.
The 75-year-old actress was honored for her role in Hacks, which recently concluded with its fifth and final season. The victory marked Smart’s eighth Emmy overall from 15 career nominations, and she appeared visibly emotional as her name was announced.
Zendaya presented Smart with the award during the ceremony.
Elsewhere, veteran actress Sally Field took home Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for her performance in Remarkably Bright Creatures.
The 78th Primetime Emmy Awards were held Monday night at the Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles, bringing together some of television’s biggest stars for the annual celebration.
