Abbott Elementary creator Quinta Brunson got revenge after Jimmy Kimmel's comedy routine for the 2022 Emmys interrupted her historic Emmy win. Kimmel, whose comedic skit with actor Will Arnett was the lead-in to announcing the award, ended the skit seemingly passed out onstage. This would have been fine, and funny, even, had Kimmel not remained on stage, under the microphone, for the entirety of Brunson's acceptance speech.
The picture's weird, to be sure.
\u201cThis picture pisses me off SO bad.\u201d— \u200f\u064b (@\u200f\u064b) 1663038332
People online were angry that Kimmel distracted from Brunson's historic win, the second ever for a Black woman and the first one solo. However, later that night at an after-party attended by both Brunson and Kimmel, Brunson playfully got her revenge, upstaging Kimmel in a photograph by obscuring him entirely with her Emmy statue.
\u201cEmmy Winner Quinta Brunson said \u201clet\u2019s see how YOU like it!\u201d\u201d— Meech (@Meech) 1663086403
This was satisfying to many people, and kept the conversation going in new directions.
First, someone took the time to fully edit out Kimmel, giving Brunson the entire attention she deserves.
\u201c@MediumSizeMeech We\u2019ve got time and Photoshop.\u201d— Meech (@Meech) 1663086403
Folks immediately noted the similarities between Brunson's maneuver and one pulled in Monsters University.
\u201c@MediumSizeMeech She Mike Wazowski\u2019d him \ud83d\ude02\u201d— Meech (@Meech) 1663086403
\u201c@MediumSizeMeech Not the Mike Wazowski treatment \ud83d\udc80\u201d— Meech (@Meech) 1663086403
A person pointed out that Brunson and Kimmel are friends and she has praised his mentorship in the past.
\u201c@MediumSizeMeech She gave an interview saying that he\u2019s helped her career and that he read the script for the show and said it was one of the funniest things he had ever read. It does seem they are good friends. Personally, I wish he weren\u2019t in the frame as she received the award.\u201d— Meech (@Meech) 1663086403
One part of the conversation centered on talking about how Brunson didn't appear to be bothered, even when people agreed that they would have been very annoyed with Kimmel. In particular, people noted that so often women—especially Black women—have to hold their tongues and go along with the joke.
\u201c@MediumSizeMeech To everyone saying she wasn\u2019t upset, I\u2019d say this\u2026 \nJust because one does not demonstrate their anger, that doesn\u2019t mean they aren\u2019t truly angry.\n\nOftentimes, the mature (and wise) thing is to at least act unphased/unaware and move on. Don\u2019t let them take away your spotlight.\u201d— Meech (@Meech) 1663086403
\u201c@thegothbae @MediumSizeMeech So you\u2019ve never played along with a lousy joke some dude made at a work event because he\u2019s kind of important & you don\u2019t want to make a scene & better to look like it\u2019s ok right now? Really? Because I\u2019m JEALOUS of you.\u201d— Meech (@Meech) 1663086403
One hopes that she can be happy unequivocally with the win, even with people online being grumpy about Kimmel's bit.
\u201c@DatNigRhiDrip @MediumSizeMeech @HerbGottiTX That is just so weird, but she handled it well. I hope she\u2019s not as upset as we are for her because she deserves to feel great\u201d— Meech (@Meech) 1663086403
Or, finally, someone said, many things can be true at once.
\u201c@3ARyder @MediumSizeMeech They're friends. He's supported her work. He's not funny. His Emmy gag missed. She kept it cute and got him back in the best possible way. Several things can be true at once.\u201d— Meech (@Meech) 1663086403
Hopefully this will not be Brunson's only Emmy, and her next acceptance speech can give her the solo spotlight she deserves.
Ash Stanton/Facebook
Laura Sprinkle/Facebook
Akira Karasu/Facebook
Cevanna Gilbert/Facebook
Troy Adam/Facebook
@GovPressOffice/X
@realDonaldTrump/Truth Social