Late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel sent social media into an uproar as he lied on stage during Quinta Brunson’s historic acceptance speech, but the Emmy winner herself said she was unbothered by the bit.
At the 74th Primetime Emmy Awards on Monday (September 12), the “Abbott Elementary” creator became the second Black woman to take home the trophy for Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series, per E! News.
Before Brunson accepted the award, comedians Will Arnett and Jimmy Kimmel introduced the category with a bit that involved the late-night talk show host playing dead on the Emmys stage.
The bit quickly turned sour on social media after Kimmel continued to lie lifeless on the stage as Brunson delivered her acceptance speech for the historic award.
However, despite the widespread online backlash, Brunson’s immediate reaction to the bit remained unbothered.
“I know Jimmy Kimmel, and I don’t know, I felt like the bit didn’t bother me that much,” Brunson told reporters backstage following her win. “I don’t know what the Internet thinks, but…I know him. Jimmy gave me my first big late-night spot and was one of the first people to see Abbott…and he Instagram messaged me that he saw this comedy and thought it was one of the greatest comedies of all time, and he was so excited that it was going to be on ABC.”
Brunson noted that she was overwhelmed with emotions and living in the moment as she received her award.
“So, I think in that moment I was just really happy that it was Jimmy up there, I kind of consider him one of the comedy godfathers, I’m a huge fan of Will Arnett,” she continued. “So, I was wrapped up in the moment.”
“Tomorrow, maybe I’ll be mad at him,” she added. “I’m gonna be on his show on Wednesday, so I might punch him in the face. I don’t know, we’ll see what happens.”
Brunson’s response to the bit didn’t stop social media users from criticizing Kimmel for not exiting the stage and taking attention away from her win.
Many called the move “disrespectful” and called out Kimmel’s “white male privilege” that allowed him to take up space as Brunson received her award.
Kimmel has not yet responded to the backlash, E! News reports.
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