The 75th Primetime Emmy Awards aired on Jan. 15, 2024, following a four-month delay due to the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes. Hosted by actor and comedian Anthony Anderson, the ceremony was full of historic wins, monumental speeches, nostalgic reunions, and eye-catching outfits. In other words, the 2024 Emmys were one for the books. Here are the most memorable moments from the awards show that the world is still raving about.
Niecy Nash-Betts gives a powerful speech.
By now, Nash-Betts has become a force in Hollywood. She has given notable performances, showcasing her depth and range. On Monday night, the actress accepted her award for her role in the limited series “Dahmer — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story.” As expected, she sauntered up to the mic serving body and vivacious personality.
Her acceptance speech was one of the most powerful of the night, and there was one person she made sure to thank — herself.
“I want to thank me for believing in me and doing what they said I could not do,” she said during her speech via Courier Journal. “I want to say to myself in front of all you beautiful people, ‘Go, girl, with your bad self. You did that.'”
Nash-Betts continued her speech by honoring Black and brown women who were silenced.
“Finally, I accept this award on behalf of every Black and brown woman who has gone unheard yet overpoliced, like Glenda Cleveland, like Sandra Bland, like Breonna Taylor,” she said. “My job is to speak truth to power, and I’m [going to] do it to the day I die.”
Anthony Anderson pays tribute to “American Horror Story: Murder House” in a latex suit.
Following the Emmys theme of nostalgia play, Los Angeles’s Peacock Theatre received a makeover to resemble the murder house from Season 1 of “American Horror Story: Murder House.” “AHS” alum Dylan McDermott took the stage to announce the award for Best Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie. During McDermott’s segment, Anthony Anderson walked out in an all-latex suit, which was featured in McDermott’s season of “AHS.”
“Oh no, not this dude again,” McDermott said when Anderson walked out in the full-body lycra suit.
Anderson still had the suit on when he returned on stage.
“Turns out it’s kind of hard to peel yourself out of a latex rubber suit quickly,” Anderson said to the audience via People.
The “Martin” cast reunites onstage.
Actor and comedian Martin Lawrence joined his former “Martin” cast mates onstage at the award show. Tisha Campbell, Tichina Arnold, and Carl Anthony Payne II appeared alongside Lawrence in a replica of the sitcom’s living room set.
The cast of the iconic and beloved sitcom — which ran from 1992 to 1997 — surprisingly never won an Emmy. In their segment, Payne believed the cast would finally receive their long-awaited Emmy.
“As a matter of fact, I’ve got my speech on deck, too,” he said via Entertainment Weekly.
“No, no, Carl — we’re not winning an Emmy tonight. Please sit your butt down,” Campbell cut in.
Arnold rectified, “We’re presenting an award, not being awarded with one knucklehead.”
Afterward, Campbell stated they should’ve won an Emmy during their run.
Ayo Edebiri and Quinta Brunson make Emmys herstory.
During a historic night for Black women, Ayo Edebiri and Quinta Brunson secured monumental wins at this year’s awards. Brunson emotionally accepted her award for Best Comedic Actress, making her the first Black woman to achieve this feat in over 40 years.
“I love making ‘Abbott Elementary’ so much, and I’m so happy to be able to live my dream and act out comedy,” she tearfully said via CNN.
Brunson is the first actress to win in this category since “The Jeffersons” star Isabel Sanford.
Edebiri also made waves when she became the third Black actress to win Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. She joins the ranks of Jackeé Harry and Sheryl Lee Ralph.
Anthony Anderson’s mom wraps up acceptance speeches.
Anderson was an entertaining host for the evening. He even brought his mother, Doris Hancox, in on the action. He told the audience that Hancox would be responsible for wrapping up acceptance speeches instead of playing the typical play-off music.
During the ceremony, Hancox held up cue cards to tell the stars when it was time to cut their acceptance speeches short.
Jennifer Coolidge gave thanks to all the evil gays.
Coolidge accepted her award for Outstanding Supporting Actress for her role as the eccentric Tanya on “The White Lotus.” She referenced her character in the series, who learned that her gay friends were plotting to murder her. She then said one of the most viral lines in TV history: “These gays, they’re trying to murder me.”
On stage, she thanked “all the evil gays,” causing the audience to chuckle.
The 2024 Emmys were one for the books. It was full of surprises, reunions, and barrier-breaking moments. You couldn’t ask for more entertainment with an award show.
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