This morning’s Golden Globes nominations generally open awards season, but (as you no doubt realize) that schedule is all kinds of messed up this year. Still, the awards ceremony will happen on February 28 (co-hosted by Amy Poehler and Tina Fey on separate coasts), and expect it to be messy. Also messy? The actual nominations threw one heck of a stunner about five seconds into the live-streamed list:
Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy
Emily in Paris
The Flight Attendant
The Great
Schitt’s Creek
Ted Lasso
That list mostly makes sense, yes? Well, it does in 4 out of 5 ways, all except for the first entry, Emily in Paris, which certainly has its place as airy entertainment but is almost entirely devoid of substance. That’s likely by design (it is, after all, a production from Darren Star, the king of primetime soaps), but Emily’s also held out by the French as an “insulting” depiction of the country, and it feels like an unintended personification of white privilege when it comes to the title character. And that makes things even more perplexing when it comes to the complete snub of one of the most authentic, dazzling, and Best Shows of 2020, HBO’s I May Destroy You.
Arguably, this is a fiery and fearless show that could go either way, comedy or drama. It is more of a comedy, however, because although it deals with a bleak subject (sexual assault and consent), it is spiked with pitch-black humor. It’s an enormously funny show in places, but sure, it could arguably be shuffled over to the TV Drama category. I think fans would be satisfied enough with drama. Yet look, it didn’t end up there, either.
Best Television Series – Drama
The Crown
Lovecraft Country
The Mandalorian
Ozark
Ratched
In addition, not a single acting nomination from the show materialized from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. Snubs do happen, yes, but this feels particularly egregious, especially since Michaela Coel — who multi-hyphenated as creator, writer, star, executive producer, and co-director — received zero recognition for her stunning and layered creation. Twitter’s calling shenanigans, in a major way, on this highly influential show being bypassed for other selections (very much including Emily in Paris).
Justice for Michaela Coel
— Jenna Wortham (@jennydeluxe) February 3, 2021
emily in paris nominated but i may destroy you isn’t….this is just so..? pic.twitter.com/e3942jdpLH
— ambar (@battinsuns) February 3, 2021
Every single conversation I’ve had with people in television over the last 10 or so months has included everyone gushing about, citing, or being influenced by I May Destroy You. Really bewildered by the Golden Globes nominations.
— Nikesh Shukla (@nikeshshukla) February 3, 2021
These Golden Globes nominations gave me a headache. At first I was happy to see Chloé Zhao, Regina King and Emerald Fennell score noms for Best Director, then the confusion and annoyance kicked in when I saw Michaela Coel and “I May Destroy You” completely snubbed.
— Alex Berg (@itsalexberg) February 3, 2021
@MichaelaCoel and #IMayDestroyYou being snubbed at #GoldenGlobes is an abomination to all young, talented and bold creators with groundbreaking ideas who pay with blood to shake up this stale industry.
Meanwhile #EmilyInParis gets multiple noms Give me a break… pic.twitter.com/D3CkwgrUIs
— Artur Zaremba (@ArturZaremba) February 3, 2021
Shameful. I May Destroy You deserves to be on the list #GoldenGlobes . It was the best thing to come out of 2020. Never seen TV come close to tackling consent like that before. @MichaelaCoel
#IMayDestroyYou— Laura Furniss (@LauraFurniss) February 3, 2021
I mean, in what world should they not be nominated? #GoldenGlobes #IMayDestroyYou pic.twitter.com/keNvwvTMlf
— Jess Toomer (@jessica_toomer) February 3, 2021
— Matt Jacobs (@tarantallegra) February 3, 2021
#GoldenGlobes: Where #EmilyinParis gets multiple noms, but Michaela Coel’s #IMayDestroyYou and Mindy Kaling’s #NeverHaveIEver get nada. pic.twitter.com/QFjyMHhvPt
— Ishani Nath (@ishaninath) February 3, 2021
Ma plus grande déception des #GoldenGlobes2021 est l’oublie de #IMayDestroyYou
Énorme incompréhension pic.twitter.com/t9qvgzzxM6
— Aly. (@AlyssaCinephily) February 3, 2021
These awards shows always have snubs and miss the mark a lot but #IMayDestroyYou was easily one of the best shows I’ve seen in the last few years and you should give it a watch if you haven’t yet. https://t.co/DC3sh53FRw
— Zach Gray (@thezachgray) February 3, 2021
Whether you loved Promising Young Woman or not, it is telling that it is sweeping awards season, while I May Destroy You has been completely ignored. It’s a clear statement about which stories we are ready to hear and which ones we continue to ignore. #imaydestroyyou
— @realSarahPolley (@realsarahpolley) February 3, 2021
See you back here for the Globes ceremony on February 28.