“Emily in Paris” writer says “I May Destroy You” deserved a Golden Globe nomination

A writer for the Netflix series “Emily In Paris” published an opinion article on Wednesday saying that the British drama series “I May Destroy You” deserved a Golden Globe nomination for its own show and said it feels “angry” with contempt.

Deborah Copaken published the article in the Guardian, arguing that the contempt for “I May Destroy You” highlighted Hollywood’s failure to reward works deserving of color.

“Am I excited about Emily’s appointment in Paris? Yes. Sure. I’ve never been even remotely close to seeing a Golden Globe statue up close, let alone being nominated for one,” Copaken wrote. “But this excitement is now, unfortunately, tempered by my anger over (Michaela) Coel’s contempt. The fact that I can destroy you for not having a Golden Globe nod is not only wrong, it’s what’s wrong with all.

“Emily In Paris,” a comedy by Darren Starr premiered on Netflix, was nominated in the category of best television series, musical or comedy, at the Golden Globes on Wednesday, an acknowledgment that many, including Copaken, were amazed to see .

Although the program was popular, it was criticized for being offensive to French culture and deaf. The program debuted last October, after a summer of anti-racism protests, and received 60% approval on Rotten Tomatoes.

Copaken addressed the criticisms in his article. “Emily in Paris aired a few months after I spent June and July marching for racial justice through the streets of New York with my kids. I could definitely see it as a show about a white American selling luxurious whiteness in a pre-pandemic. Paris purified from its vibrant African and Muslim communities can irritate, “she wrote.

Meanwhile, “I May Destroy You”, a drama series created by actress and writer Michaela Coel, portrays a beloved author trying to set up a night of drinking. The show was considered a darling of the 2020 dramas, with an average approval rating of almost 98%.

The series, which addresses mental health, identity and sexual assault, was applauded for the way it addressed difficult issues, as well as the strength of Coel’s performance.

“I May Destroy You was not just my favorite show in 2020. It’s my favorite show of all time,” added Copaken. “He takes the complicated issue of rape – I’m a sexual assault survivor myself – and infuses it with heart, humor, emotion and a story so well constructed that I had to watch it twice, just to understand how Coel did it. “

In recent years, Hollywood has been heavily criticized for ignoring actors and writers of color during the awards season. Copaken argued that if the shows were really indicated for their quality, they would include a diverse selection of artists.

“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, ”she said. “But we also need to reward programs (and music, movies, plays and musicals) that deserve them, no matter what color their creators are.”

This year’s Golden Globe nominations also made history by nominating three directors in the same year – Regina King for “One Night In Miami”, Chloé Zhao for “Nomadland” and Emerald Fennell for “Promising young woman”. Only one woman, Barbara Streisand, won the award, which she received in 1984 for directing “Yentl”.