RuPaul Breaks Record for the Most Emmy Wins by a Person of Color

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RuPaul continues to make history. With 11 wins, the host and producer broke the record for the most Emmy wins by a person of color as “RuPaul’s Drag Race” was named outstanding competition program on Sunday night. The series is the most-awarded reality competition show at the Emmys.

“Wow, thank you so much to the Academy and all of you gorgeous people here tonight,” RuPaul said in his acceptance speech. “All of the people at World of Wonder and Viacom-CBS who have been so wonderful, but really thanks to all of our lovely children on our show from around the world. You know, they are so gracious to tell their stories of courage and how to navigate this difficult life, even more difficult today. This is for you. And for the kids out there watching: You have a tribe that is waiting for you. We are waiting for you, baby: come on to Mama Ru. Thank you so much.”

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RuPaul had tied the record for most-awarded person of color at the Emmys with cinematographer Donald A. Morgan during last Sunday’s Creative Arts Emmy Awards. The “RuPaul’s Drag Race” host, whose full name is RuPaul Andre Charles, broke another record that evening by winning outstanding host for a reality or competition program for the sixth year in a row. (He had already made history by breaking the record in the category last year.)

Click here to see the full Emmys winners list.

During his acceptance speech last week, he said, “I started in television 40 years ago on a public access station in Atlanta, Georgia. A little show called ‘The American Music Show.’ They were so kind to me to have me do my hard yards there years ago, and I want to thank them for being so kind to me and all the people in this business who’ve been kind. I’ve got to tell you, the sweetness and the kindness is what I appreciate the most today. In fact, the sweetness and the kindness are at the top of my list of human virtues. After that would be a big fat ass. Thank you so much for this award.”

The show won four awards in total during the Creative Arts Emmys ceremony. “Drag Race” also nabbed the trophy for directing a reality program (for Nick Murray), which it had last won in 2018. Also adding to the franchise’s dominance, “RuPaul’s Drag Race: Untucked” won the unstructured reality category for the first time.

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