Before introducing Television Academy chair Chris Abrego, John Leguizamo did as John Leguizamo does, speaking candidly about representation in Hollywood and his own experience growing up watching white actors play Latin roles. Seeing him shout out the evening’s Latinx nominees was particularly poignant.
“For years, I didn’t complain about the limited roles my people were offered. The spicy sexpot, the Latin lover, the maid, the gangbanger. Turns out not complaining doesn’t change anything,” he said, prompting applause.
“So for the past few years, I’ve been complaining,” Leguizamo said, before displaying his open letter to the Television Academy, which asked members to consider nominating talent of color, on the big screen.