White artists sweep acting awards at Emmys despite record nominations for people of color

Six years after #OscarsSoWhite, the Emmys put on a sequel.

Despite a record 44% of 2021 acting nominations going to performers of color, white actors swept the trophies at Sunday’s award show in all 12 lead and supporting races for comedy, drama and limited series.

The domination by “Ted Lasso” and “The Crown,” both with overwhelmingly white casts, didn’t help the diversity, but Michael K. Williams had been a strong favorite for supporting actor in a drama for his role in “Lovecraft Country,” even before his death.

Instead, Tobias Menzies took home the award for his role as Prince Philip in “The Crown.”

“Pose” star Mj Rodriguez was an underdog in the lead actor in a drama category and would have been the first transgender performer to win before being being bested by Olivia Colman, also of “The Crown.”

Billy Porter, the glamorous Pray Tell on “Pose,” lost to Josh O’Connor for his sniveling portrayal of Prince Charles on “The Crown” and “Ted Lasso’s” Brett Goldstein beat Carl Clemons-Hopkins (”Hacks”), Kenan Thompson (”Saturday Night Live”) and Bowen Yang (“Saturday Night Live”) for supporting actor in a comedy.

Beyond Williams, “Lovecraft Country” was left out entirely outside of a Creative Emmys win for Courtney B. Vance, as both stars Jurnee Smollett and Jonathan Majors were both snubbed.

Other non-white nominees who went home empty-handed including “The Flight Attendant’s” Rosie Perez, “Bridgerton’s” Regé-Jean Page and the cast of “Hamilton.”

Michaela Coel became a critical darling for “I May Destroy You,” but only took home one trophy, for writing on a limited series.