Emmys 2021: #EmmysSoWhite trend after zero acting wins for people of colour

The 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards ran into controversy after social media was abuzz with criticism about actors of colours not winning any award despite a diverse nomination field.

During the three-hour ceremony, it took two hours for a person of colour to be recognised when RuPaul won the Outstanding Reality-Competition Emmy for RuPaul's Drag Race.

RuPaul broke the record for the most Emmy wins by a person of colour.

Michaela Coel, who was nominated for four awards, won the Emmy for Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series for HBO Max's I May Destroy You. She became the first black woman to win for writing for a limited series.

Hamilton won for pre-recorded special, while Debbie Allen was the recipient of the 2021 Governors Award.

Social media started trending the #EmmysSoWhite after the show was over. Taking nothing away from the winners of the night, social media conversations revolved around the question of whether other nominees were not equally worthy of celebration. 

After three successful seasons, Pose earned multiple nominations for executive producer and director Steven Canals, the first leading actress nod for a trans woman for Mj Rodriguez, and Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series for Billy Porter. Michael K. Williams, who died earlier this month, was nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his work in HBO's Lovecraft Country. After five nominations across his lengthy career, he was not posthumously celebrated for his standout performance. 

However, none were honoured for their contributions.

At the Creative Emmys, Maya Rudolph became the first same category consecutive double-Emmy winner in 20 years and the third Black woman ever to win back-to-back awards with her repeat trophies for Saturday Night Live and Big Mouth.