September 13, 2021
RuPaul Rakes in Sixth Emmy Win; Tied for Record
READ TIME: 2 MIN.
RuPaul took home the Emmy for Outstanding Host For A Reality Or Competition Program, marking the sixth year in a row the "Drag Race" presenter has claimed the prize, Deadline reported.
RuPaul scored the win at the Creative Arts Emmys, which is a separate ceremony from the Primetime Emmys, where he is also in contention to win "his fourth consecutive Outstanding Competition Program trophy as an executive producer of 'RuPaul's Drag Race,'" Entertainment Weekly noted. "A win would make him the new record holder of most Emmys for a Black artist."
As it stands, RuPaul's Sept. 12 win ties with cinematographer Donald A. Morgan for "the record for the most Emmy wins by a person of color," Deadline detailed. "If RuPaul wins at next week's Emmys for Outstanding Competition Program for 'Drag Race,' he will break the record."
RuPaul offered his thanks to "all the people in this business who've been kind" in a stirring acceptance speech.
"I started in television 40 years ago on a public access station in Atlanta, Georgia," RuPaul recounted. "A little show called 'The American Music Show.' They were so kind to me to have me do my hard yards there years ago, and I want to thank them for being so kind," the reality star added.
"I've got to tell you, the sweetness and the kindness is what I appreciate the most today," RuPaul went on to say. "In fact, the sweetness and the kindness are at the top of my list of human virtues. After that would be a big fat ass."
"Thank you so much for this award!" RuPaul finished up.
In addition to his sixth-in-a-row win for Outstanding Host For A Reality Or Competition Program, RuPaul also snagged another Emmy at the Sept. 12 ceremonies as an executive producer of "Untucked", which won for "Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program," EW reported.
Mama Ru might well be making another acceptance speech on Sept. 19, the evening of the Primetime Emmys, Variety predicted.
"If the Creative Arts Emmys are any indication, and they usually are, Television Academy voters are ready to give the VH1 show a fourth consecutive victory in the category," Variety detailed.
"That would tie 'RuPaul's Drag Race' with 'The Voice' as the second-most honored series in the competition category since it began in 2003," Variety added. "Only 'The Amazing Race', with ten, has more."
The win "comes a month after VH1 renewed RuPaul's Drag Race for season 14, expected to launch in the new year, as well as companion series 'RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked'," Deadline noted.