Salli Richardson-Whitfield entered Monday night’s Emmys with two nominations for drama series directing — for The Gilded Age and Task — yet she walked away empty-handed.
Instead, the award went to Scottish director Saul Metzstein for Slow Horses.
Paradise star Sterling K. Brown was shut out of the winner’s circle in the lead actor in a drama series category during the ceremony at the Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles.
So were The Testaments actress Chase Infiniti and Euphoria star Zendaya, who were both nominated for lead actress in a drama series. In fact, not a single actor of color picked up a trophy at the 78th Emmy Awards.
Wonder Man star Yahya Abdul-Mateen II lost in the lead actor in a comedy series category.
Lead actress in a comedy nominees Quinta Brunson (Abbott Elementary) and Ayo Edebiri (The Bear) both went home empty-handed.
The Four Seasons actor Colman Domingo and Abbott Elementary’s Tyler James Williams lost in the supporting actor in a comedy series category.
Emmy voters also bypassed Abbott Elementary star Janelle James for supporting actress in a comedy series.
Other actors of color who left the ceremony without awards included Guatemalan-American star Oscar Isaac, who was nominated for lead actor in a limited or anthology series or movie for Beef, and Iranian-American actress Sepideh Moafi, who was nominated for supporting actress in a drama series for The Pitt.
Moafi was the first Iranian-American woman to ever be nominated in her category. On the red carpet Monday, she told Variety she was “speechless” about the distinction yet honored to be recognized.
Jessica Williams (Shrinking), Carlos-Manuel Vesga (Pluribus), and Riz Ahmed (Bait) also lost in their categories.
By the end of Monday’s ceremony, #EmmysSoWhite was trending on social media.
One bright spot was Widow’s Bay director Hiro Murai, who is Japanese, won for comedy series directing. And last week Ernest Harden Jr., who is Black, picked up an award at the Creative Arts Emmys for his guest role on The Pitt.
Gold Derby awards website reported this was the first time in five years there were no acting winners of color at the Primetime Emmy Awards.
The Television Academy hands out the Emmys. In February, the organization released its 2026 Transparency Report, which showed 67 percent of its members who reported their race or ethnicity identified as white.
Black members accounted for 9.2 percent, Latino members 7.7 percent, East or Southeast Asian members 4.1 percent, South Asian members 1.2 percent and Middle Eastern members accounted for .6 percent.
The group said it has about 30,000 members and “remains committed” to diversity equity and inclusion.
Judging by Monday night’s Emmys results, the Television Academy has a long way to go.
The main image shows (L-R) Salli Richardson-Whitfield, Janelle James, Colman Domingo, Chase Infiniti. (Credit: NBC via Getty Images)
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