Latinos Steal the Spotlight: Making History at the 2024 Emmy Awards
This past weekend, the 76th Emmy Awards went down in Los Angeles, celebrating the best of TV from the past year. Big shows like The Bear, Hacks, and Shogun snagged the top honors. But honestly, it wasn’t just about the award-winning shows—Latinos in the entertainment industry came through, making history, giving powerful speeches, and showing everyone why diversity and representation matter so much.
Traditionally, award nights like these have been tough for BIPOC creators to get the recognition they deserve. And while this year’s Emmys didn’t completely shake things up, there were some major moments for the Latino community.
Diego Luna and Gael García Bernal Drop Truth Bombs on Inclusion
Diego Luna and Gael García Bernal together? Always a vibe. At the Emmys, they came with an important message: “The Emmys are losing viewers.” Then, Luna switched it up to Spanish, pointing out that over 50 million people in the U.S. speak Spanish. That’s a huge number, so why don’t media companies see Latino families as a key audience for growth?
Liza Colón-Zayas’ Historic Win
One of the most inspiring moments of the night was when Liza Colón-Zayas took home the award for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. She was genuinely shocked and said, “I didn’t write a speech because I didn’t think this was possible.” She gave a heartfelt thanks to the other nominees, including legends like Meryl Streep and Carol Burnett.
Colón-Zayas won for her role as Tina Marrero in The Bear. In the episode Napkins—which was Ayo Edibiri’s directorial debut—her character deals with losing her job, a theme that’s hitting hard these days. Colón-Zayas perfectly captured the frustrations and fears that so many people in the U.S. are feeling, especially when you add in race and class dynamics.
With this win, Liza Colón-Zayas became the first Latina to take home this award in this category. The fact that in 2024 we’re still seeing “firsts” like this is telling. Colón-Zayas knows how rare opportunities are for Latinas in Hollywood and how hard it is to get seen and taken seriously. Her words were a mic-drop moment: “To all the Latinas watching me, keep believing. And vote. Vote for your rights.”
@latinus_us Sigan creyendo y voten por sus derechos: Liza Colón-Zayas se convierte en la primera latina en ganar Mejor Actriz de Reparto en una comedia por su papel en #TheBear. #Latinus #InformaciónParaTi ♬ sonido original - Latinus
John Leguizamo: Championing Latino Representation in Media
John Leguizamo also had his moment, introducing the first-ever Latino president of the Television Academy. Leguizamo, who’s been a long-time advocate for diversity, talked about the rough history of Latino representation in Hollywood. “At 15, I didn’t know the word ‘representation,’ but I saw a lot of brownface,” he said, remembering how white actors like Marlon Brando in Viva Zapata! and Al Pacino in Scarface played Latino roles.
Earlier this year, Leguizamo even bought a full-page ad in The New York Times urging Emmy voters to recognize the talent of people of color. While he’s still frustrated with Hollywood’s slow progress, he did acknowledge the historic number of diverse nominees this year. “What I’m seeing here tonight makes me, well, almost happy and definitely less mad, because tonight is one of the most diverse lists of Emmy nominees in history,” he said.
Nava Mau and Laverne Cox: A Historic, Emotional Moment
One of the night’s most touching moments came when Nava Mau, the first trans woman ever nominated for Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series, Anthology, or Movie, met Laverne Cox on the red carpet. Cox, who broke barriers 10 years ago as the first openly trans actress nominated for an Emmy, welcomed Mau with some heartfelt words: “Ten years ago, I became the first openly trans person to be nominated for an acting Emmy, and ten years later, I’m not the last. You’re the fourth, and you’re the first in this category.”
Their emotional encounter highlighted the ongoing fight for trans visibility in Hollywood. Reflecting on her nomination, Mau said, “What we’ve been fighting for in the community is to tell stories that come from the heart and are based on a human foundation. Because that’s what we are as trans people. We are human, first and foremost.” This moment underscored the power of representation and the importance of telling diverse stories on screen.
Latino Talent Takes Over the 2024 Emmys
These historic moments at the Emmys reflect a larger conversation about Latino representation in media. From Nava Mau’s trailblazing nomination to Liza Colón-Zayas’ surprise win, Latino talent stole the show at the 2024 Emmy Awards, proving once again that diverse voices can drive meaningful change across all industries.