“Abbott Elementary” star Sheryl Lee Ralph didn’t see the humor in Jimmy Kimmel’s distracting stunt at the 2022 Emmys.
The late night host was dragged onto the stage by Will Arnett to present the award for Best Writing in a Comedy Series, but was “fainted” for “stepped into skinny margaritas” after losing the Emmy for his nightly series for the “13th time in a row.”
When Ralph’s co-star and creator of “Abbott Elementary”, Quinta Brunson, took the stage to accept the award, Kimmel remained committed to the piece and didn’t move, leaving Brunson struggling to get close to the microphone. for her speech.
According to reporters from a TV Critics Association summer press tour panel on Wednesday, Ralph was less than impressed.
“I was completely confused. I didn’t know what was going on,” she revealed. “But I thought, ‘I wish that guy would just get off the ground’… And then I realized it was Jimmy Kimmel.”
‘Oh, the lack of respect. I told him to his face, too,’ Ralph added. “He understood.”
Kimmel’s stunt was also criticized online, as some fans accused him of “white privilege” and likely ruined Brunson’s big moment.
Brunson didn’t mind his antics, though.
“Jimmy gave me my first big night spot and was one of the first people to see ‘Abbott'” she told the press after the moment. “He messaged me on Instagram that he saw this comedy and thought it was one of the best comedies of all time.”
Coincidentally, Brunson will appear on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” on Wednesday, so it’s yet to be determined if she’s changed her mind about the encounter.
As for Ralph, she got a standing ovation for her Emmy’s acceptance speech in which she sang Dianne Reeves’ “Endangered Species” and gave motivational words about never giving up.
Season 2 of “Abbott Elementary” will premiere on ABC on September 21.