From The Hollywood Reporter · Brande Victorian · · 2m
TV’s So White Again: Diversity Now Optional
Emmys show zero Black, Latino and Asian winners as diversity efforts reverse.
In brief
Emmys show zero Black, Latino and Asian winners as diversity efforts reverse. The 2026 Emmys had no winners of color after a year of progress and regression in diversity metrics. Originally reported by The Hollywood Reporter.
Emmys 2026: Zero winners of color
The 2026 Emmys had no winners of color after a year of progress and regression in diversity metrics.
UCLA reports diversity decline
UCLA’s 2026 Hollywood Diversity Report found lead actors of color dropped to 36 percent from 51 percent in 2024.
Streaming shows with BIPOC casts fall
Streaming films featuring casts with a majority of people of color dropped from 41 percent to 25.8 percent.
2020 Black Lives Matter protests
Hollywood positioned itself as an ally after Black Lives Matter protests erupted in 2020.
Netflix and Disney commitments
Netflix tweeted, 'To be silent is to be complicit. Black lives matter.' Disney pledged to foster diversity and inclusion.
“To be silent is to be complicit. Black lives matter.”
Academy’s diversity requirements
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences instituted diversity and inclusion requirements for best picture nominees.
UCLA’s 2022 diversity report
UCLA’s 2022 Hollywood Diversity Report showed digital scripted series created by people of color increased from 14.7 percent to 25.6 percent.
2023 streaming shows with BIPOC creators
UCLA’s 2023 Streaming Television report found only 11 percent of scripted shows had BIPOC creators.
Diversity as economic interest
The Latino Donor Collaborative found the industry could generate $12 billion to $18 billion annually with proper Latin representation.
UCLA’s 2026 streaming ratings
Streaming films with 21 percent-30 percent BIPOC casts had the second-highest median ratings.
HBO’s The Pitt wins Emmys
HBO’s The Pitt led all Emmy nominations with 25 nominations and won best drama for the second year.
With Love creator’s fear
With Love creator Gloria Calderón Kellett felt a fear that she did not feel before after the industry’s shift.
Deli Boys cancellation
Deli Boys, a Hulu series with two Pakistani American brothers, was canceled after two seasons with no Emmy nominations.
“Deli Boys was passed on by everybody except for Onyx Collective.”
Systemic bias in Hollywood
UCLA found systemic bias in Hollywood, with 92% of studio chairs or CEOs being white and 68% male.
Political rollback of DEI
Trump’s executive order terminated all diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility offices in federal agencies.
The short version
The 2026 Emmys had no winners of color after a year of progress and regression in diversity metrics.
