Part of me wishes I had zero social awareness, otherwise known as the basic ability to read the room. It seems like it would be quite freeing, to be honest. After all, ignorance is bliss, and not being able to sense the mood of those around you is arguably the ultimate form of ignorance. Scott Frank — co-creator, writer, and director of Netflix’s smash hit The Queen’s Gambit — is apparently and unfortunately one of those people.
During his acceptance speech for Outstanding Directing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie at the 2021 Emmy Awards, Frank not only gave the longest speech of the night — rivaled only by the speech given by Debbie Allen after she won a lifetime achievement (and even still, Frank’s speech was somehow longer) — but did so in remarkably pompous fashion, whipping out a two-page diatribe and refusing to adhere to the infamous play-off music three separate times. To make matters worse, the speech wasn’t even intellectual, inspiring, or revealing — it was simply an example of Scott taking as much time as he felt he deserved.
Not only were those in the crowd obviously uncomfortable — Anya Taylor-Joy deserves an acting award just for how she responded to the portion of Frank’s speech about her eyes — but television fans watching at home took to Twitter to slam the self-important screenwriter.
That said, Scott Frank dude, there’s other people in the room who need to give speeches too. Good lord get a grip man.
— Eric Italiano (@ericitaIiano) September 20, 2021
everyone to Scott Frank pic.twitter.com/UE4JrlhIEP
— Post Cred Pod (@PostCredPod) September 20, 2021
Michaela Coel just said more in 30 seconds than Scott Frank said in 2 minutes.
— Carrie Courogen (@carriecourogen) September 20, 2021
Unfortunately Scott Frank burned himself going that long with his speech and then Michaela Coel burned him again by proving you only really need 30 seconds to deliver a banger.
— Matt Patches (@misterpatches) September 20, 2021
I sense that Scott Frank thinks he deserved Debbie Allen time. That was exceptionally douchie. #Emmys2021 pic.twitter.com/dkILOhF3NW
— Doug Winfield (@d2k) September 20, 2021
Scott Frank wins Emmy for directing limited series, celebrates win with UNLIMITED SPEECH
— Kevin T. Porter (@KevinTPorter) September 20, 2021
Jean Smart realizing Scott Frank still might speak again #Emmys2021 pic.twitter.com/NYgpWrM1NR
— Sam Adams (@SamuelAAdams) September 20, 2021
In case you're curious…
Michaela Coel's acceptance speech: 53 seconds long
Debbie Allen's acceptance: 2 minutes, 50 seconds long.
Scott Frank's lasted for 3 minutes and 28 seconds.
The first two are inspiring and quotable.
The other one… pic.twitter.com/CxEAcc0P4v— Melanie McFarland (@McTelevision) September 20, 2021
Michaela Coel is the perfect palette cleanser to Scott Frank. #emmys
— Damian Holbrook (@damianholbrook) September 20, 2021
My feed is one big united front against the AUDACITY right now. #emmys pic.twitter.com/r0SSOaJ5yb
— Emily Slater (@emislater) September 20, 2021
We're all going to have to stay late because Scott Frank thinks it's okay to shake off the playoff music several times in his speech after his #Emmys win for Limited Series/Directing.
— The A.V. Club (@TheAVClub) September 20, 2021
Wow. Scott frank for The Queen's Gambit talked about as much as Debbie Allen did for her Governor's award! That is some serious entitlement going on there…
— Eric Deggans at NPR (@Deggans) September 20, 2021
"Accepting. for The Queen's Gambit will be LITERALLY ANYBODY OTHER THAN Scott Frank…"#Emmys
— Daniel Fienberg (@TheFienPrint) September 20, 2021
Scott Frank seems delightful
— Mike Scully (@scullymike) September 20, 2021
Despite Frank’s exceptionally douchey speech, the fates remained in his favor nonetheless, as The Queen’s Gambit closed out the night by winning the Emmy award for Outstanding Limited Series, beating out the likes of I May Destroy You, Mare of Easttown, WandaVision, and The Underground Railroad. Luckily, though, Scott did not speak during that acceptance speech. Let’s hope it’s because he checked Twitter and saw what everyone was saying about him.
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