The Emmys Acceptance Speech That Caused Such A Stir

After accepting an Emmy Award for Outsanding Writing for a Drama Series earlier in the evening, Jesse Armstrong took to his virtual podium once again, when his show, Succession snagged the 2020 Emmy Award for Best Drama Series. Armstrong didn't waste his breath. From a soft, white hotel-room armchair and with an endearing smile on his face, when the award-winning writer and producer started his speech we thought, maybe, he'd raise a tea glass, nod, and declare his gratitude. Instead, Armstrong shocked the world. 

"For being robbed of this opportunity to spend this time with our peers and with our cast and crew, I think maybe I'd like to do a couple of un-thank yous," Armstrong began (via Deadline). "Un-thank you to the virus for keeping us all apart this year; un-thank you to President Trump for his crummy and uncoordinated response," he continued, "un-thank you to Boris Jonson and his government for doing the same in my country; un-thank you to all the nationalist and quasi-nationalist governments who are exactly the opposite of what we need right now, and un-thank you to the media moguls who do so much to keep them in power," Armstrong concluded. He sat back. And he laughed, just a little bit. The virtual Emmy Awards gave him a standing ovation. 

"Scathing and amazing" is, perhaps, the least positive praise that Twitter has given Armstrong for his speech. To say that Armstrong has gone viral is an understatement. More than viral, Armstrong seems to have invented a new and essential social media vocabulary. Case in point?  Twitter has responded to Armstrong's Emmy acceptance speech by coming up with un-thank you lists of its own. "#UnThankYou to anyone who has called COVID a hoax," wrote one Emmy viewer (via Twitter). 

And also: "In honor of #SuccessionHBO winning the big today, I #unthankyou to forest fires, brush fires, firing on unarmed people, and firearms in Michigan's state Capitol, firing thirty-million workers (high unemployment) due to the economic devastation from Covid-19 mismanagement," tweeted another frustrated follower. "It's only a matter of time before #UnThankYou starts trending so UnThankYou to everyone that refuses to be a good neighbor and loving human being by not wearing a mask," observed a third (via Twitter). 

Others seem to be saving up their un-thank yous for a later date. "I can't wait to "Un-Thank" some people in November!," wrote a fourth Armstrong fan, adding the hashtag, #vote, to her tweet.