What should have been a glorious moment for Abbott Elementary actor Quinta Brunson at last night's Emmys quickly became an awkward on-stage encounter between Brunson and the presenters.
Will Arnett and Jimmy Kimmel presented the Emmy for best writing in a comedy series. Arnett actually dragged Kimmel on to the stage, where Kimmel stayed...and stayed...and stayed throughout not only the presentation but also through the acceptance speech from category winner Quinta Brunson.
Arnett joked to the crowd:
"This is the 13th time in a row that he's lost and he just got into the skinny margaritas back there."
Kimmel stayed on the stage floor throughout the entirety of Brunson's speech, moving only to give her a thumbs up when Brunson said:
"Jimmy, wake up. I won."
After Brunson's heartfelt acceptance speech, Arnett proceeded to drag Kimmel back off of the stage, as you can see in the video below.
\u201cJimmy Kimmel fully committed to that bit! Will Arnett dragged him out to present and once the show cut to commercial, he dragged him offstage too. \u2620\ufe0f #Emmys\u201d— Chris Gardner (@Chris Gardner) 1663035289
Though Jimmy Kimmel is known for his comedy, this bit did not sit well with viewers.
\u201c@chrissgardner It wasn\u2019t funny. And his continuing to lay there while Quinta Brunson accepted her first Emmy was rude & disrespectful\u201d— Chris Gardner (@Chris Gardner) 1663035289
\u201c@chrissgardner\u201d— Chris Gardner (@Chris Gardner) 1663035289
\u201c@chrissgardner He\u2019s getting dragged on Twitter as well\u2026..\u201d— Chris Gardner (@Chris Gardner) 1663035289
\u201c@chrissgardner This was selfish\u201d— Chris Gardner (@Chris Gardner) 1663035289
\u201c@irns53 @chrissgardner A meme that perfectly demonstrates selfishness and the shift that is currently happening in comedy\u201d— Chris Gardner (@Chris Gardner) 1663035289
\u201c@david_tk421 @chrissgardner I Think Jimmy Wishes To Shimmy Himself Under A Rock And Rethink A Supposedly Funny Bit That Definitely Bombed.\u201d— Chris Gardner (@Chris Gardner) 1663035289
\u201c@chrissgardner Joke's over, dude. The moment wasn't about you.\u201d— Chris Gardner (@Chris Gardner) 1663035289
\u201c@chrissgardner Disgusting and disgraceful\u201d— Chris Gardner (@Chris Gardner) 1663035289
\u201c@chrissgardner Maybe it was funny to Hollywood, but the public is outraged that he laid there while @quintabrunson [IN A DRESS] tried to accept her first Emmy.\u201d— Chris Gardner (@Chris Gardner) 1663035289
\u201c@chrissgardner The Kimmel people are already Getting ready to spin the situation, they\u2019re arguing that the floor on that stage has never been cleaner\u2014-It was an homage to that old Saturday night live sketch. Kimmel is a floor cleaner: no, he\u2019s a TV host, now he\u2019s both.\u201d— Chris Gardner (@Chris Gardner) 1663035289
\u201c@chrissgardner What was the joke supposed to be?\u201d— Chris Gardner (@Chris Gardner) 1663035289
\u201c@chrissgardner Oh look another talk show host making someone\u2019s special moment all about them!\u201d— Chris Gardner (@Chris Gardner) 1663035289
Though some were impressed by Kimmel's to commitment to the bit, most felt that he took away from what should have been an incredible moment in Brunson's career.
Jane Rosenberg
Jane Rosenberg
@arianagrande/Instagram
@arianagrande/Instagram