Viola Davis made history at Sunday night’s Emmy Awards when she became the first black woman to take home the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series trophy. Her acceptance speech, which touched upon the lack of opportunity for women of color, was poignant, emotional and empowering.
So it’s a serious wonder why “General Hospital” actress Nancy Lee Grahn used that moment to criticize Davis.
I wish I loved #ViolaDavis Speech, but I thought she should have let @shondarhimes write it. #Emmys
— Nancy Lee Grahn (@NancyLeeGrahn) September 21, 2015
“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,” she wrote in a since-deleted tweet captured by BuzzFeed.
@kingquartermain Try being any woman in TV. Wish she’d brought every woman in the picture. I wish I’d opportunity to play roles she has gets
— Nancy Lee Grahn (@NancyLeeGrahn) September 21, 2015
She also took issue with Davis quoting Harriet Tubman (“In my dreams, I see a line. Over that line, I see green fields and lovely flowers and beautiful white women with their arms stretched out to me over that line, but I can’t seem to get there no how, I can’t seem to get over that line”).
@JanvierNoir Harriet Tubman not equivalent to great roles Viola Davis hired 2play. She’s made millions. It is unfair comparison. .
— Nancy Lee Grahn (@NancyLeeGrahn) September 21, 2015
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
@nxssy I do 2. I think she’s the bees knees but she’s elite of TV performers. Brilliant as she is. She has never been discriminated against
— Nancy Lee Grahn (@NancyLeeGrahn) September 21, 2015
After receiving backlash for her comments, Grahn attempted to apologize and respond to her critics.
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
@sdotbain frm my perspective she was lucky actress who got great role. I dont have that honor. Its perspective. not race. I had no idea
— Nancy Lee Grahn (@NancyLeeGrahn) September 21, 2015
@s1rduk3 @Altibalba @MaLumiere I will not get off twitter for my best lessons are learned here but I will typein “intersectional feminsim”
— Nancy Lee Grahn (@NancyLeeGrahn) September 21, 2015
@JuztKilo Ur right. I sounded like an asshole. I didnt meant to. I had a valid point but I expressed it badly. Ur right. I apologize
— Nancy Lee Grahn (@NancyLeeGrahn) September 21, 2015
She wrote a lengthier response in an extended tweet:
I apologize for my earlier tweets and now realize I need to check my own privilege. My intention was not to take this historic and important moment from Viola Davis or other women of color but I realize that my intention doesn’t matter here because that is what I ended up doing. I learned a lot tonight and I admit that there are still some things I don’t understand but I am trying to and will let this be a learning experience for me.
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
Ugh.
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