So what did Viola have to say about the backlash and Nancy’s bitterness about not feeling included in the speech?
Well she didn’t want to say too much or give Nancy any more shine.
Instead, she decided to give more attention to black actresses and their sisterhood.
Here’s an excerpt of Viola’s interview with The New York Times:
Q. For you it is about inclusion.
A. If there has been any backlash, it’s that all people want to feel included in a speech. I know there has been some backlash with an actress who didn’t feel she was included.
Q. You mean the soap opera actress (Nancy Lee Grahn, who argued on Twitter that Ms. Davis’s speech was misleading because she was part of an elite group of actresses who had never been held back by discrimination)?
A. Yes. I don’t know that I want to say more about that.
Q. Did you get to see Uzo Aduba (who won the supporting actress in a drama category) or Regina King (supporting actress in a limited series or movie), at the after parties?
A. Oh, I saw every last one of them! I saw Uzo, I saw Regina, I saw Lorraine Toussant, I saw Niecy Nash, I saw Queen Latifah — I didn’t get to see Mo’Nique or Kerry Washington, who I get to see on the set every once in a while. But I am renewing my vows on Feb. 13, and I hope I will get to see Kerry Washington and Taraji there. Oprah sent me a bouquet. See, these are actresses I get together with every year, in community, in camaraderie, in sisterhood. It’s pointless to be in competition — it’s only adding to the pressure that the business is putting on you.
I’m glad she didn’t give that idiot any more press.
Me too. Most of us had no clue who she was before all of this happened. I’d let her go back to an unknown soap actress while I collect Emmys and get roles of a lifetime…like Viola is doing.
She handled this well.
Love her.
Viola doesn’t have to say anything that loser is still getting dragged. Viola just needs to keeping shining and winning like she been doing.
Viola is always a class act. I personally would have thrown some shade. LOL.
Sh-t I’m just ready for HTGAWM! Black Twitter scalped that old hag so bad Viola didn’t need to say sh-t.
Viola understands the dummy hanged herself anyway. When someone acts ugly and exposes themselves for the world to see, you don’t have to say or do anything. Let people hang themselves.
This is the most attention Nancy has ever had her whole life.
Good for her. I love that Viola has such great relationships with other black actresses. It means she really gets it.
Great response while still shining light on the beautiful black actresses ‘oh girl’ appears threatened by.
I love her answer because she basically said without actually saying it that that bish isn’t even important but was mad because the speech made her feel even less important. LOL.
So classy! Love her.