Jimmy Kimmel is drawing some flak for lying onstage during Quinta Brunson’s award acceptance speech at the 2022 Emmys.

Kimmel was presenting the award for the best writing in a comedy series along with Will Arnett, who dragged the former onstage saying “13th time in a row that he’s lost and he just got into the skinny margaritas back there.” Kimmel appeared to have passed out by then.  

Brunson then took the stage to accept her first-ever Emmy, for her work in ABC’s Abbott Elementary. Kimmel continued to remain onstage. 

While Arnett tried to push him out of the way to make room for the winner, Brunson told him “Jimmy, wake up. I won.” Kimmel remained committed to the part, giving her a thumbs up, but refusing to move. He stayed there for the remainder of her speech and only after Brunson went offstage did Arnett drag Kimmel away. 

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Backstage, Brunson addressed the moment saying that she wasn’t bothered by it too much and adding that Kimmel had given her her first major late-night appearance. “I think in that moment, I was just really happy that it was Jimmy up there”, she said, adding, “I kind of consider him one of the comedy godfathers; I’m a huge fan of Will Arnett, so I was wrapped up in the moment. I don’t know — tomorrow maybe I’ll be mad at him. I’m gonna be on his show on Wednesday, so I might punch him in the face. I don’t know. We’ll see what happens.” 

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However, not many in the industry have looked upon Kimmel’s skit too favourably. Andy Dehnart, secretary of the Television Critics Association, tweeted “Jimmy Kimmel not moving to get out of Quinta Brunson’s way is a (sh*tty, selfish, bullsh*t) choice”. 

Another Twitter user added, “The same power dynamics that made Jimmy Kimmel feel like lying there during Quinta Brunson’s acceptance speech was an acceptable thing to do…are the same power dynamics that would punish *her* if she expressed displeasure about it, or doesn’t accept his apology fast enough.”