Sheryl Lee Ralph apologised for calling Abbott Elementary the only real comedy in its Emmy category — the show then won nothing
Abbott Elementary’s Emmy winner Sheryl Lee Ralph has apologised for remarks about her fellow Emmy nominees — and it’s the line she’s walking back you’ll be after.
Here we go again with another awards season drama – this time it is Sheryl Lee Ralph, known for her work on Abbott Elementary, stirring up some lively debate on the Emmy red carpet. While she was out celebrating and promoting the show (as most stars do when it is up for trophies), a stray remark landed her in a bit of hot water with fans and fellow industry types alike.
The Comment That Did the Rounds
While chatting to E! News during the whole pre-ceremony pageantry, Ralph sang the praises of her fellow Abbott Elementary cast members. No problem there – until she threw in this little grenade: she was "looking forward to a win since we're the only real comedy in the category." That line, not surprisingly, spread like wildfire on socials and got more than a few eyebrows raised. It is one thing to back your own show, but calling out every other nominee as not being a 'real comedy' is asking for trouble, frankly.
Swift Response and Apology
The backlash came predictably quickly, so Ralph decided to address it head-on. She put out a statement, clarifying her intentions and apologising for stepping on anyone else's moment. Here's how she explained herself afterwards:
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My intention was to celebrate what we've built and never to diminish anyone else. But intention doesn't erase impact, and I understand how my words sounded dismissive. For that, I am truly sorry.
She went out of her way in the apology to stress she only meant to uplift her show's cast and crew, not fire shots at the competition. Still, by that point, the quote had been screen-grabbed and dissected everywhere. That is awards season in a nutshell for you – everyone is on edge, and casual remarks can echo louder than you expect.
The Actual Outcome
All that fuss and, in the end, Abbott Elementary walked away without any Emmys this year. (That irony probably wasn't lost on Ralph or anyone else on that team.) The Outstanding Comedy Series race was a crowded field, with Abbott up against The Bear, Hacks, Only Murders in the Building, Shrinking, Nobody Wants This, Margo's Got Money Troubles, and Widow's Bay.
Widow's Bay left everyone else in the dust, snagging 14 Emmy wins across the night – the most of any comedy series this year.
- Abbott Elementary did not win in any category for this year's Emmys.
- The big comedy winner was Widow's Bay, racking up a whopping 14 trophies.
Still, Sheryl Lee Ralph remains one of Abbott Elementary's brightest stars, having already won the 2022 Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy for her role as Barbara Howard, the ever-steady veteran teacher. The series, created by and starring Quinta Brunson, is still flying high in ABC's modern sitcom stable and keeps getting plenty of love from critics, even if this season did not add any Emmy hardware to the shelf.