Iconic drag queen RuPaul Charles took home three Emmys last night at the Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony, bringing his lifetime total to 11 Primetime Emmys, the most of any Black entertainer in history.
RuPaul received the Emmy for Outstanding Host for a Reality or Competition Program for his work on the thirteenth season RuPaul’s Drag Race. He also got the award for Outstanding Competition Program for RuPaul’s Drag Race and Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program for RuPaul’s Drag Race: Untucked.
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During his acceptance speech for the Emmy for Outstanding Competition Program, RuPaul took the stage with judge Michelle Visage, season 13 winner Symone, and season 13 contestant Gottmik, and he spoke directly to queer youth.
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“For you kids out there watching,” RuPaul said, “you have a tribe that is waiting for you.”
“We are waiting for you, baby. Come on to Mama Ru!”
RuPaul is now the most-decorated Black artist since the #Emmys began in 1949.
166 queens on Drag Race over 12 years. 11 personal awards. That’s herstory. pic.twitter.com/12UMaTnyID
— Joey Nolfi (@joeynolfi) September 20, 2021
🚨Historic moment🚨 @rupaul is the most-decorated Black artist at the #Emmys – EVER! Congrats to @RuPaulsDragRace on your win for Outstanding Competition Program! pic.twitter.com/BOVhZj1u7C
— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) September 20, 2021
Out actor Jonathan Groff was part of the team from Hamilton on Disney+ that won the Emmy for Best Variety Special. He was also nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for his portrayal of King George in Hamilton but did not win the prize.
Other LGBTQ actors who received historic nominations did not win an Emmy. Mj Rodriguez, the first transgender person nominated in a lead acting category for her work on season 3 of Pose, did not win Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. Co-star Billy Porter did not win Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for his work on Pose either.
Porter and Rodriguez presented an award together.
Michaela Jaé X Billy Porter presenting at the 73rd Primetime Emmys. #mjrodriguez #michaelajaé pic.twitter.com/M8lrctarPc
— TeamMichaelaJaé (@Teammichaelajae) September 20, 2021
Actor Bowen Yang was the first SNL featured player (meaning he has been on the show for less than two years) nominated for an acting Emmy and the first LGBTQ Chinese American nominated for an acting Emmy, but he did not take home the award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.
Carl Clemons-Hopkins is the first out non-binary actor to be nominated for an Emmy, ever. They were nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for their work on Hacks but did not take home the prize.
They still left an impression on the red carpet, sporting purple, black, white, and yellow, the colors of the non-binary pride flag.
Can we please talk about Carl Clemons-Hopkins from #Hacks in this perfect look on the #Emmys red carpet?!? pic.twitter.com/nlWh7x1MEc
— Jarett Wieselman (@JarettSays) September 19, 2021
The Emmy Awards faced criticism for how so many of the winners were white, despite how people of color made up 44% of the nominees chosen by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. White people won all the 12 main lead and supporting actor awards.
EmmysSoWhite: White Actors Sweep the 2021 Emmy Awards https://t.co/vSdOft7uVg
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) September 20, 2021
