Michelle Williams talked about the importance of equal pay as she accepted her award for Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie at tonight’s Emmys.
The Fosse/Verdon star noted that her win was a result of a woman being treated fairly in Hollywood and unsurprisingly it stirred up a load of the positive reaction online.
‘My bosses never presumed to know better than I did about what I needed in order to do my job and honor Gwen Verdon, so I want to say thank you so much to FX and to Fox 21 studios for supporting me completely and for paying me equally,’ Michelle said.
‘They understood that when you put value into a person, it empowers that person to get in touch with their own inherent value.
‘And then where do they put that value? They put it into their work.’
Every boss everywhere should watch Michelle Williams’ #Emmys speech. Hear it, live it pic.twitter.com/cg8DXminfo
— Siobhan Morris (@siomo) September 23, 2019
Michelle continued: ‘So the next time a woman, especially a woman of colour because she stands to make 52 cents o the dollar compared to her white male counterparts, tells you what she needs in order to do her job, listen to her, believe her, because one day she might stand in front of you and say, “Thank you,” for allowing her to succeed because of her workplace environment and not in spite of it. ‘
Viewers applauded Michelle’s speech on social media, with Suits actor Patrick J Adams, commenting: ‘Where do I sign up for speech classes with Michelle Williams? #Emmy2019.’
Michelle Williams speech just gave me goosebumps. Yes Yes Yes
— Danielle Panabaker (@dpanabaker) September 23, 2019
Where do I sign up for speech classes with Michelle Williams? #Emmy2019
— Patrick J Adams (@halfadams) September 23, 2019
Michelle Williams just took us to the church of women’s equality. BEAUTIFUL SPEECH. @TIMESUPNOW #Emmys2019
— kerry washington (@kerrywashington) September 23, 2019
Michelle Williams thank you for acknowledging that there is a far greater wage gap for women of color than literally everyone else including white women #Emmys
— Candice Frederick (@ReelTalker) September 23, 2019
That Michelle Williams speech belongs on a plaque. #Emmys
— shauna (@goldengateblond) September 23, 2019
Meanwhile, Django Unchained star Kerry Washington wrote: ‘Michelle Williams just took us to the church of women’s equality. BEAUTIFUL SPEECH.’
Michelle beat the likes of Amy Adams, Patricia Arquette, Niecy Nash, Joey King and Aunjanue Ellis to the gong tonight’s 71st annual Emmy Awards at Los Angeles’ Microsoft Theatre.
Emmys 2019 Winners
Writing for a Comedy Series – Fleabag, Episode 1, Phoebe Waller-Bridge
Directing for a Comedy Series – Fleabag, Episode 1, Harry Bradbeer
Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series – Tony Shalhoub, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Lead Actor in a Comedy Series – Bill Hader, Barry
Lead Actress in a Comedy Series – Phoebe Waller-Bridge
Competition Programe – RuPaul’s Drag Race
Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie – Patricia Arquette, The Act
Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie – Stellan Skarsgård, Chernobyl
Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie – Ben Whishaw, A Very English Scandal
Writing for a Limited Series or TV Movie – Chernobyl, Craig Mazin
Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie – Jharrel Jerome, When They See Us
Television Movie – Black Mirror: Bandersnatch
Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie – Michelle Williams, Fosse/Verdon
Outstanding Limited Series – Chernobyl
Variety Talk Series – Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
Variety Sketch Series – Saturday Night Live
Directing for a Variety Series – Saturday Night Live, Host: Adam Sandler
Supporting Actor in a Drama Series – Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones
Writing for a Drama Series – Succession, Nobody Is Ever Missing, Jesse Armstrong
Supporting Actress in a Drama Series – Julia Garner, Ozark
Lead Actor in a Drama Series – Billy Porter, Pose
Directing for a Drama Series – Ozark, Reparations, Jason Bateman
Lead Actress in a Drama Series – Jodie Comer, Killing Eve
Comedy Series – Fleabag
Drama Series – Game of Thrones
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