Deborah Copaken, a writer on Netflix’s hit series Emily In Paris, penned a powerful op-ed about I May Destroy not earning a single Golden Globe nomination.
Despite her own series picking up two major nods, the 54-year-old author and photojournalist found the British drama’s snub unfathomable.
‘Now, am I excited that Emily In Paris was nominated,’ Copaken wrote in a Guardian article. ‘Of course. I’ve never been remotely close to seeing a Golden Globe statue up close, let alone being nominated for one.’
Stunned: Deborah Copaken, a writer on Netflix’s hit series Emily In Paris, penned a powerful op-ed about I May Destroy not earning a single Golden Globe nomination
‘But that excitement is now unfortunately tempered by my rage over (Michaela) Coel’s snub,’ she continued.
She protested that the fact ‘that I May Destroy You did not get one Golden Globe nod is not only wrong, it’s what is wrong with everything,’
‘But my fury is not just about race. Or even about racial representation in art. Yes, we need art that reflects all of our colors, not just some. But we also need to give awards to shows that deserve them, no matter the color of the skin of their creators,’ the writer stressed.
Snubbed: Despite her own series picking up two major nods, the 54-year-old author and photojournalist found the British drama’s snub unfathomable
When speaking on the past criticism of Emily In Paris, which was released in October, Copaken noted she understood how a ‘show about a white American selling luxury whiteness, in a pre-pandemic Paris scrubbed free of its vibrant African and Muslim communities, might rankle.’
‘Did I take the criticism of the show personally? Of course. Who wouldn’t? But also not,’ she admitted, revealing that several iconic scenes were inspired by her own experiences and faux pas as an American in Paris.
Additionally, her show aired just a few months after she spent the summer ‘marching for racial justice through the streets of New York ‘with her kids.
‘Did I take the criticism of the show personally? Of course. Who wouldn’t? But also not,’ she admitted, pointing out several iconic scenes were based on her own experiences as a young American and college student in Paris
Sparking backlash: When speaking on the past criticism of Emily In Paris, which was released in October, Copaken noted she understood how a ‘show about a white American selling luxury whiteness, in a pre-pandemic Paris scrubbed free of its vibrant African and Muslim communities, might rankle’
After watching I May Destroy, which she calls ‘a work of sheer genius about the aftermath of a rape,’ her initial reaction was that it ‘deserves to win all the awards.’
‘I was stunned. I May Destroy You was not only my favorite show of 2020. It’s my favorite show ever,’ she went on. ‘I had to watch it twice, just to understand how Coel did it.’
As a sexual assault survivor, she praised how Coel used ‘heart, humor, pathos’ to address the complicated issue.
Impressed: After watching I May Destroy, which she calls ‘a work of sheer genius about the aftermath of a rape,’ her initial reaction was that it ‘deserves to win all the awards’
Fans of I May Destroy You were outraged when the hit show, and creator Michaela Coel, were snubbed by the 78th Golden Globe Awards.
The nominations for the event were announced on Wednesday, and the actress, 33, who starred, wrote, directed, and produced the critically-acclaimed series, failed to get a nod in any category.
I May Destroy You was one of the summer’s most critically-acclaimed shows around the world when it aired on BBC One and HBO.
‘I am genuinely embarrassed for the Golden Globes’: I May Destroy You fans were left outraged as the show and creator Michaela Coel (pictured) were snubbed by the awards on Wednesday
The 12-part series fearlessly dives into hard-hitting issues affecting the lives of young London-based writer Arabella (Michaela) and her close group of friends.
It follows Arabella as she comes to terms with a sexual assault after her drink was spiked at a nightclub, in a storyline based on the harrowing real-life experience of Michaela.
Normal People, The Queen’s Gambit, Small Axe, The Undoing, and Unorthodox were nominated in the Limited Series category at the awards show.
Meanwhile, in the Best Actress category for a Limited Series, nods went to Cate Blanchett, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Shira Haas, Nicole Kidman, and Anya Taylor-Joy instead of Michaela.
Understandably upset about the snub, fans of the show took to Twitter to share their thoughts on the matter and claiming it had been the best series to air in 2020.
One viewer wrote: ‘I am genuinely embarrassed for the Golden Globes. I don’t think it’s overboard at all to say ‘I May Destroy You’ was the most important piece of TV in the past twelve months. Madness.’
Another added: ‘Michaela Coel’s I May Destroy You was the best show of last year, outrageous overlook from the Golden Globes nominations.
While one person hit out: ‘ there was quite literally no better show that aired in the past year than I May Destroy You, and no better performance than Michaela Coel from the past year, so… yea not even going to give the Golden Globes my time.’
Shocked: Understandably upset about the snub, fans of the show took to Twitter to share their thoughts on the matter and claiming it had been the best series to air in 2020
Another Twitter user went on: ‘Golden Globes needs to seriously rethink that I May Destroy You snub.’
And one person claimed: ‘Michaela Coel’s I May Destroy You not even being nominated for the Golden Globes really speaks “systemic racial” volumes. Last year they snubbed Ava’s When They See Us and now this
One fan also said: ‘a world in which Emily in Paris has a Golden Globes nomination and I May Destroy You does not… much to think about.’
Although the awards show usually takes place in January, this year’s event has been postponed due to the pandemic.
Not considered: Meanwhile, in the Best Actress category for a Limited Series, nods wen to Cate Blanchett, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Shira Haas, Nicole Kidman, and Anya Taylor-Joy instead
The Golden Globes will air in the time slot recently made available after the Oscars were also postponed because of the COVID-19 crisis from February 28 to April 25.
Tina Fey and Amy Poehler are set to co-host the show virtually from opposite coasts, a first for the awards show.
According to Variety, Tina will broadcast from atop New York City’s Rockefeller Center, in the Rainbow Room, while Amy will fulfil her co-hosting duties from the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, where the awards show is usually held.
The 78th Annual Golden Globe Awards will air live Sunday, February 28 at 8pm ET/5pm PT on NBC.
GOLDEN GLOBES 2021: THE NOMINEES
MOVIES
Best Motion Picture, Drama
The Father
Mank
Nomadland
Promising Young Woman
The Trial of the Chicago 7
Best Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical
Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
Hamilton
Music
Palm Springs
The Prom
Sweeping the board: Mank is the most nominated film with six nods
Best Director
Emerald Fennell – Promising Young Woman
David Fincher – Mank
Regina King – One Night in Miami
Aaron Sorkin – The Trial of the Chicago 7
Chloé Zhao – Nomadland
Best Screenplay
Emerald Fennell – Promising Young Woman
Jack Fincher – Mank
Christopher Hampton, Florian Zeller – The Father
Aaron Sorkin – The Trial of the Chicago 7
Chloé Zhao – Nomadland
Best Foreign Language Picture
Another Round
La Llorona
The Life Ahead
Minari
Two of Us
Best Animated Picture
The Croods: A New Age
Onward
Over the Moon
Soul
Wolfwalkers
Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture, Drama
Viola Davis – Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Andra Day – The United States vs Billie Holiday
Vanessa Kirby – Pieces of a Woman
Frances McDormand – Nomadland
Carey Mulligan – Promising Young Woman
Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama
Riz Ahmed – Sound of Metal
Chadwick Boseman – Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Anthony Hopkins – The Father
Gary Oldman – Mank
Tahar Rahim – The Mauritanian
Captivating: Vanessa Kirby is nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture, Drama for Pieces of a Woman
Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical
Maria Bakalova – Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
Kate Hudson – Music
Michelle Pfeiffer – French Exit
Rosamund Pike – I Care a Lot
Anya Taylor-Joy – Emma
Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical
Sacha Baron Cohen – Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
James Corden – The Prom
Lin-Manuel Miranda – Hamilton
Dev Patel – The Personal History of David Copperfield
Andy Samberg – Palm Springs
Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
Glenn Close – Hilbilly Elegy
Jodie Foster – The Mauritanian
Olivia Colman – The Father
Amanda Seyfried – Mank
Helena Zengel – News of the World
Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture
Sacha Baron Cohen – The Trial of the Chicago 7
Daniel Kaluuya – Judas and the Black Messiah
Jared Leto – The Little Things
Bill Murray – On the Rocks
Leslie Odom Jr – One Night in Miami
Best Original Score in a Motion Picture
The Midnight Sky
Tenet
News of the World
Mank
Soul
Best Original Song in a Motion Picture
Judas and the Black Messiah
The Life Ahead
One Night in Miami
The Trial of the Chicago 7
The United States vs Billie Holiday
TELEVISION
Best Television Series, Drama
The Crown
Lovecraft Country
The Mandalorian
Ozark
Ratched
One to watch: Lovecraft Country is up for Best Television Series, Drama
Best Television Series, Comedy or Musical
Emily in Paris
The Flight Attendant
The Great
Schitt’s Creek
Ted Lasso
Best Limited Series, Anthology or TV Movie
Normal People
The Queen’s Gambit
Small Axe
The Undoing
Unorthodox
Racy: Normal People is up for Best Limited Series, Anthology or TV Movie
Best Performance by an Actress in a TV Series, Drama
Olivia Colman – The Crown
Jodie Comer – Killing Eve
Emma Corrin – The Crown
Laura Linney – Ozark
Sarah Paulson – Ratched
Best Performance by an Actor in a TV Series, Drama
Jason Bateman – Ozark
Josh O’Connor – The Crown
Bob Odenkirk – Better Call Saul
Al Pacino – Hunters
Matthew Rhys– Perry Mason
Spooky: Sarah Paulson is up for Best Performance by an Actress in a TV Series, Drama for Ratched
Best Performance by an Actress in a TV Series, Comedy or Musical
Lily Collins – Emily in Paris
Kaley Cuoco – The Flight Attendant
Elle Fanning – The Great
Jane Levy – Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist
Catherine O’Hara – Schitt’s Creek
Best Performance by an Actor in a TV series, Comedy or Musical
Don Cheadle – Black Monday
Nicholas Hoult – The Great
Eugene Levy – Schitt’s Creek
Jason Sudeikis – Ted Lasso
Ramy Youssef – Ramy
Best Performance by an Actress in a Limited Series, Anthology or TV Movie
Cate Blanchett – Mrs America
Daisy Edgar-Jones – Normal People
Shira Haas – Unorthodox
Nicole Kidman – The Undoing
Anya Taylor-Joy – The Queen’s Gambit
Royally good: Elle Fanning is up for Best Performance by an Actress in a TV Series, Comedy or Musical for The Great
Best Performance by an Actor in a Limited Series, Anthology or TV Movie
Bryan Cranston – Your Honour
Jeff Daniels – The Comey Rule
Hugh Grant – The Undoing
Ethan Hawke – The Good Lord Bird
Mark Ruffalo – I Know This Much Is True
Best Supporting Actress in a Television Series
Gillian Anderson – The Crown
Helena Bonham Carter – The Crown
Julia Garner – Ozark
Annie Murphy – Schitt’s Creek
Cynthia Nixon – Ratched
Best Supporting Actor in a Television Series
John Boyega – Small Axe, “Red, White and Blue”
Daniel Levy – Schitt’s Creek
Brendan Gleeson – The Comey Rule
Jim Parsons – Hollywood
Donald Sutherland – The Undoing
One to watch: Donald Sutherland is up for Best Supporting Actor in a Television Series for The Undoing