#EmmysSoWhite trended online after all the acting awards were given to White actors. While the Emmys saw some historic wins, with RuPaul breaking the record for the most Emmys won by a person of color with RuPaul’s Drag Race in the outstanding competition program and Michaela Coel winning a writing accoladate for HBO’s I May Destroy You, all major acting awards were given to White actors—despite this year having the most diverse set of nominees. Some of the favored nominees included the late Michael K. Williams for his work on Lovecraft Country, Billy Porter and Mj Rodriguez for their work in Pose, and SNL’s Kenan Thompson and Bowen Yang, who lost out to series like Ted Lasso and The Crown. Because of the results, the hashtag #EmmysSoWhite began trending on social media with some users pointing out how the ceremony had a Black host and Black music, and that Black entertainers did “everything but win.” This is hardly the first time an award show has been criticized for its lack of diverse winners: after #OscarsSoWhite trended, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences added a “mandatory diversity standard” for future films to meet before being considered for the Best Picture award. YPulse’s Representation in Action trend research explores how while young BIPOC consumers feel like representation in media and entertainment has improved, there’s still a long way to go. (Deadline, CNET)
