Nancy Lee Grahn got a lot of backlash for criticizing Viola Davis’ Emmys speech on Sunday night, even though Davis made history as the first African American woman to win in the category she did.
image courtesy of Jennifer Graylock/INFphoto.com
Davis won for Best Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her role on the show How to Get Away With Murder and she got tons of support from her peers for her emotional speech.
Grahn, however, wasn’t impressed and took to Twitter to say so. "I wish I loved #ViolaDavis Speech," she tweeted. "But I thought she should have let @shondarhimes write it."
The actress, best known for her role in General Hospital, later apologized after tweeting and deleting, "Im a f--king actress for 40 yrs. None of us get respect or opportunity we deserve. Emmys not venue 4 racial opportunity. ALL women belittled,” E! Online reports.
"I think she's the bees knees but she's elite of TV performers," she also wrote while responding to someone. "Brilliant as she is. She has never been discriminated against."
In a series of tweets, she apologized for her words, saying she “learned a lot,” adding she has to “check my own privilege.”
Viola Davis winning lead actress Emmy's historic. My upset is acting awards dont fix racial injustice. As an actor I see how irrelevant we r
— Nancy Lee Grahn (@NancyLeeGrahn) September 21, 2015
I never mean to diminish her accomplishment. I wish I could get her roles. She is a goddess. I want equality 4 ALL women, not just actors.
— Nancy Lee Grahn (@NancyLeeGrahn) September 21, 2015
I apologize 2 anyone who I offended. I'm women advocate since I became one. After reading responses, I hear u and my tweet was badly phrased
— Nancy Lee Grahn (@NancyLeeGrahn) September 21, 2015
Schooled. As surrogate 2 last democratic presidents I thought I needed no lesson in equality. I was wrong. Please accept my apology.
— Nancy Lee Grahn (@NancyLeeGrahn) September 21, 2015
30 yrs an advocate 4 human rights & now i'm a racist. Color me heartbroken. Twitter can bring out the best & sadly tonight the worst of us.
— Nancy Lee Grahn (@NancyLeeGrahn) September 21, 2015
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