The Most Political Moments at the 2018 Emmy Awards
The 2018 Emmys arrived nearly nine months after last winter's award season, whose red carpets were abundant in Time's Up support and peaceful #MeToo protests. How did the political demonstrations at tonight's ceremony match up?
Although there were no widespread dress codes to follow or designated badges to wear, some Emmys guests still put in the effort to champion the causes they believe in. Below are some of the standout political moments at the 70th Emmy Awards.
Laura Dern encouraged people to vote before even getting to the event.
While on her way to the ceremony, a glammed-up Laura Dern asked people to vote for Dean Phillips, a Democratic candidate for Congress in Minnesota. He's running "in one of the key districts that we need to flip that's been held by Republicans," the Big Little Lies star said, adding that her followers should "get educated" about the candidate.
"He is the only person running for Congress who refuses to take pack money or special interests," she continued.
A post shared by @ lauradern on Sep 17, 2018 at 4:36pm PDT
Jenifer Lewis wore Nike to support Colin Kaepernick.
The Black-ish star proudly wore a sequined sweatshirt, leggings, and sneakers-all custom-made by Nike-to applaud the brand for supporting football player and activist Colin Kaepernick, who protested racial injustice by kneeling during the national anthem. "Thank you for leading the resistance," she said of the sportswear company.
"We need more [of] corporate America to stand up also," Lewis added. "These are not dark times, these are awakening times. And we all have to wake up."
Tatiana Maslany wore Planned Parenthood pins on the red carpet.
The Orphan Black star accessorized her lime green and black Christian Siriano jumpsuit with a subtle, but meaningful Planned Parenthood pin.
Stars wore ACLU blue ribbons.
Attendees including Edie Falco, Padma Lakshmi, and Evan Rachel Wood wore blue ribbons to support the organization. Wood said she wore hers to support families separated at the border.
While we continue to hold the Trump administration accountable in court, we're grateful for artists like Edie Falco, who use their voices and platforms to keep up the pressure at the #Emmys. pic.twitter.com/X2tS10k2k1
- ACLU (@ACLU) September 18, 2018
The Handmaid's Tale star Alexis Bledel even stuck one onto her clutch.
An "I am a voter" pin made an appearance.
With the midterm elections approaching in November, The Alienist actress Q'orianka Kilcher made sure to remind people to use their voices.
The Kavanaugh protests hit the red carpet.
Sarah Sophie Flicker, who's married to Glow director Jesse Peretz, wore some written body art that reads, "STOP KAVANAUGH 202-224-3125." The D.C. number allows anyone who calls it to contact their representative and senators via the Capitol Hill Operator.
A better look pic.twitter.com/xgVk5iD0f6
- Carly Mallenbaum (@ThatGirlCarly) September 17, 2018
#Emmys GLOW director Jesse Peretz and his wife Sarah who has quite the arm accessory this year. pic.twitter.com/BSDPyjvTCa
- Cynthia Littleton (@Variety_Cynthia) September 17, 2018
Evan Rachel Wood brought an activist as her date.
The Westworld star and Emmy nominee was accompanied by Amanda Nguyen, an activist, sexual assault survivor, Nobel Peace Prize nominee, and author of the Sexual Assault Survivor’s Bill of Rights, People reports. Wood told E! News that she and Nguyen "testified in congress together" to get the bill passed.
"I think we're at a crucial time in history right now for women, for civil rights," Woods added. "You know, if I have even a little bit of power right now, I want to use it for good."
Rachel Brosnahan urged people to vote.
While accepting her award for Lead Actress in a Comedy, the Marvelous Mrs. Maisel star told the crowd to show up at the polls. She said at the end of her speech:
“One of the things I love the most about this show while I have you captive for another two seconds, it’s about a woman who is finding her voice anew. It’s something that’s happening all over the country right now.
"One of the most important ways that we can find and use our voices is to vote. So if you haven’t already registered, do it on your cell phone right now. Vote, show up, and bring a friend to the polls."
Rachel Brosnahan uses her acceptance speech to urge people to vote: "One of the most important ways to find and use your voice is to vote." #Emmys (via THR) pic.twitter.com/xFbHoLZQrO
- Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) September 18, 2018
The show called out Hollywood's "diversity problem."
In the opening number for the ceremony (which was, obviously, a musical), celebs including Sterling K. Brown, Kristen Bell, Titus Burgess, Kate McKinnon, and Kenan Thompson satirized Hollywood's praising itself for "solving" the lack of diversity onscreen. Cameos included Andy Samberg, Ricky Martin, and Ru Paul. At the end of the skit they faced the bleak truth: there's still a "long way to go."
In a separate filmed short, Michael Che handed out "Reparation Emmys" to black actors who were robbed of the award in previous years.
At other times, the callouts pointed at progress. For example, Emilia Clarke said while presenting, "The comedy writing category, once dominated by white, male nerds, now boasts more female and diverse nerds than ever before."
Emilia Clarke and Millie Bobby Brown presenting at tonight’s #Emmys pic.twitter.com/Nn7R6GZsQd
- dragon's daughter (@yeahclarke) September 18, 2018
There was shade against Trump and his supporters.
Though they might not have said his name outright, hosts Colin Jost and Michael Che still poked fun at the President. In the opener, they joked that they hoped the Obamas, who are slated to launch programming on Netflix, make "their own version of The Apprentice" and get "way higher ratings."
They also looked back at how different the country was in 1949, when the first Emmys took place. "Gas was 17 cents a gallon, a new home cost $7,000 and we all agreed that Nazis were bad," they said.
The hosting duo also called out Roseanne Barr, who was "canceled by herself" and later "picked up by white nationalists."
Hannah Gadsby spoofs #NotAllMen.
While presenting an award, the Australian comedian parodied a common backwards response to women's issues. "Somebody like me, a nobody from nowhere, gets this sweet gig-free suit, new boots-just 'cause I don't like men. That's a joke, of course. Just a joke, fellas, calm down. #NotAllMenButALotOfThem," she said.
After clarifying that she was, again, joking, Gadsby added, "Nobody knows what jokes are, especially not men."
Watch Australia's very own @Hannahgadsby and her amazing #Emmys moment. Legend. pic.twitter.com/usoEOCH36B
- news.com.au (@newscomauHQ) September 18, 2018
Ryan Murphy dedicated his award to the LGBTQ community.
When American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace won for Outstanding Limited Series, showrunner Ryan Murphy used his acceptance speech to denounce homophobia and hate crimes against the LGBTQ community. He said:
"The Assassination of Gianni Versace is about a lot of things. It's about homophobia, internalized and externalized. It's about a country that allows hatred to grow unfettered and unchecked.
"One out of every four LGBTQ people in this country will be the victim of a hate crime. We dedicate this award to them. We dedicate this award to awareness, to stricter hate crime laws, and mostly this is for the memory of Jeff [Trail] and David [Madson] and Gianni [Versace] and all of those taken too soon."
.@MrRPMurphy dedicates #ACSVersace Emmy win to LGBTQ community: “We dedicate this to them, we dedicate this to awareness.” #Emmys pic.twitter.com/PMFIAGMSB4
- Hollywood Reporter (@THR) September 18, 2018
('You Might Also Like',)
