When the winner was announced for the “Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series” award, Michaela Coel, writer of the hit HBO series, I May Destroy You, nearly fell out of her chair when her name was called. Minutes later, the audience nearly did too when she delivered one of the shortest, but most authentic speeches of the night.
Despite the initial shock of winning her first Emmy Award, Coel delivered a prepared, thoughtful tribute to her fellow writers: “Write the tale that scares you, that makes you feel uncertain, that is uncomfortable. I dare you. In a world that entices us to browse through lives of others to help us better determine how we feel about ourselves, and to in turn feel the need to be constantly visible.”
She continued, “For visibility these days seems to somehow equate to success — do not be afraid to disappear. From it, from us, for a while, and see what comes to you in the silence.”
The Emmy-winning show, I May Destroy You, tells the story of Arabella (Michaela Coel), who is forced to reassess her life and relationships after being sexually assaulted in a nightclub. Honoring the premise of the show, Coel concluded her time on stage with by dedicating her award to “every single survivor of sexual assault.”
The audience erupted in applause and rose out of their seats to give Coel a well-deserved standing ovation. Coel made history tonight as the first Black woman to win this award.
From a first-time winner to a life-long winner, one of the most memorable moments of the night was Debbie Allen’s acceptance speech for the honorary Governor’s Award. According to the Emmys home page, The Governors Award celebrates outstanding achievement that is “so extraordinary and universal in nature as to go beyond the scope of the Emmy Awards presented in the categories and areas of the competition.”
After a career spanning more than 50 years, the dancer, singer, actress, choreographer, director, and producer, was certainly deserving.
“I am trembling with gratitude and grace, and I’m trying not to cry,” Allen said with humility.
Allen’s speech was mainly focused on the hardships of being a woman in the entertainment industry, as Allen herself was first rejected from the Houston Ballet in 1962 but was later accepted because they simply could not deny her talent.
Allen admitted, “It’s taken a lot of courage to be the only woman in the room a lot of times,” but she concluded with an inspiring message to women: “Let this moment resonate with women around this country, around the world from Texas to Afghanistan. It’s time for you to claim your voice,” Allen said, citing the oppression of women both at home and overseas.
Both Coel and Allen represented their communities by winning these esteemed awards, but also by delivering personal, empowering messages to other aspiring women like themselves.
In addition to the speeches, here are some of the most notable outcomes from the night:
The Crown won all seven awards in the Drama Series category, and a total of 21 Emmys out of their 63 nominations.
Ted Lasso finished with a total of four awards — all in the Comedy Series category.
The Queen’s Gambit ended the night with an astonishing 11 Emmys.
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