Actress Nancy Lee Grahn Disses Viola Davis' Emmys Speech

[big_dog]

Source: Huffington Post & Buzz Feed

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.


"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.


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&quot .

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/nancy-lee-grahn-viola-davis-emmy-speech_56000ba3e4b00310edf7ae62

[Skittles]

1. ugly

[UncleTomsEvilBrother]

2. The aftermath, though

The beat down that she received from Blacktwitter was epic, though. By the end of the night, I could read the tears in her tweets. She made a big time mistake with that initial tweet.

[Chakab]

3. Not a good year for self-described liberals and racial politics.

[irisblue]

4. somehow a soap opera actress can ID racial discrimination

in anothers' life from a distance....ohhhhkayyy

[Javaman]

5. jealousy is so ugly. nt

[bluestateguy]

6. So? I don't even know who Nancy Lee Grahn is.

nt

[Chakab]

8. Are you familiar with the subject of every story gets posted in LBN?

I'm sure as hell not, and I generally don't waste my time posting in the threads that don't interest me.

[demwing]

18. Celebrity twitterpations

If some unknown "Jane the Janitor" had tweeted that nonsense no one would give a great damn. As a society we're so full of outrage, but so unwilling to do anything. Fixing our shit would mean there's nothing left to get twittered about, and we can't have that, can we?

For the most part, TV sucks. It's a social sleeping pill, teaches us to develop a short attention span, provides a method for the .1%ers to mainline corporate advertising directly into your living room, and delivers political propaganda masquerading as news, 24/7.

Turn it off.

[Blasphemer]

7. Not only were her tweets tone deaf and insulting...

Her argument, if you want to call it that, was completely absurd. In her view, Ms. Davis's success was proof that she had never suffered from discrimination. In the same breath, she discussed her own struggles as a woman stuck in daytime due to limited opportunities. How is it that the success of multiple Emmy winners like Allison Janney, Julianna Marguiles, and Claire Danes isn't similar proof of a lack of discrimination against women in Hollywood? She can't have it both ways. The success of a few does not take away from the oppression of the many. Just like Barack Obama's election hasn't miraculously made this a post-racial society, Ms. Davis has succeeded DESPITE the discrimination she has suffered not because it does not exist.

[TexasBushwhacker]

22. There are fewer opportunities for actresses than actors

For actresses of color, even less. And for actresses of color who don't have light skin like Halley Berry, EVEN LESS. Two thirds of all speaking parts go to males.

[Cha]

9. eee gods.. glad Black Twitter schooled her. Oh that buzzfeed.. capturing Tweets. Be careful what

idiocy you spew.

[Dustlawyer]

10. In addition to being hateful, jealous, and ignorant, I think she was drunk!

One too many at the after party!

[lib87]

11. Translation: "What about me & my feelings?!"

[Skittles]

12. what about MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

[lib87]

13. "I'm an Actress tooooo!"

[gwheezie]

14. I wasted precious hours

Following this on twitter, Nancy couldn't figure out how to quit the smack down.

[Skittles]

16. it's sad

I don't watch awards shows but google later for any noted speeches and the worst dressed

Ms. Davis's speech was wonderful indeed

Check out Heidi Klum's dress if you get a chance

[JI7]

15. this is disappointing Nancy Lee Grahn has been very good on liberal issues

but this shows where there can be lack of understanding of some liberals when it comes to race.

she is right that even white women have it difficult compared to white men . but race is still an issue and black women would have an even more difficult time.

her own show General Hospital is an example of a show lacking in people of color . and even when they get someone they are limited scenes and usually don't last long.

[LovingA2andMI]

17. Me Thinks Nancy's "Career" as a C- Level....

Soap Opera Actress is so DONE after this remark....and so it should be.

Now on to Ms. Viola "Julliard School Trained" Davis and her Awesome Emmy, plus Best Actress Win (First African-American Actress in a Television Nominated Role, to do so -- to Boot)!!



You Go Viola. So proud of you and a serious HTGAWM Fan!!

[mcar]

19. "All actresses matter"

Sheesh. How tone deaf can a person be. Davis' speech was extraordinary.

[Iggo]

21. That ain't tone deaf. That's exactly the tone she was going for.

[dkhbrit]

20. Seriously

How can you walk up on that stage and moan about lack of,opportunities!?!? They don't know they're born some of these so called celebrities. Utter bullshit.

[Raster]

24. What? Please explain your word salad post....

[randys1]

28. Sounds like he or she might have been drinking while posting

[romanic]

23. This is the one time I can get behind Black Twitter.

This actress (whom I never heard of) was so damned envious she might as well paint herself green and lay in the grass to blend in.

[PatSeg]

25. Sounds like someone was drinking & Tweeting

at the same time. 21st century version of "drunk dialing".

[Oneironaut]

26. General Hospital didn't win? The acting is usually so good.

[appacom]

27. Drunk tweeting. . .

..always results in headaches much more painful than hangovers from alcohol. Nancy probably is jealous and/or racist,but it was that last drink that removed her filters. No sympathy coming her way from here.