Jimmy Kimmel apologized to this Emmy winner after an awkward stage encounter

Jimmy Kimmel is a busy man. He hosts his own talk show, he's hosted a handful of Oscars shows over the last decade, and in 2022, he hosted the Emmy Awards. The comedian did a fine job, but his antics rubbed viewers the wrong way when Quinta Brunson won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series.

Instead of clearing the stage and letting Brunson have her moment, Kimmel decided to lay on the stage while she gave her speech. It was intended to garner laughter from the audience, but it wound up garnering lots of criticism online. Many believed that Kimmel stole the spotlight from Brunson, and that he should have let her enjoy her first Emmy win.

Kimmel laid on the stage during Quinta Brunson's speech

Some of these critiques must have gotten through to Kimmel, who brought Quinta Brunson on his talk show to apologize. The comedian admitted that he'd had a bit too much to drink, and thought that his antics would be funny given that he was also nominated in the Outstanding Writing category:

"They said that I stole your moment, and maybe I did. I'm very sorry if I did do that — I'm sorry I did do that, actually."

Kimmel also praised Brunson's writing on the sitcom Abbott Elementary. He claimed that he thought the world of her comedic talents, and concedes that his stage bit was "dumb." Brunson took Kimmel's apology in stride.

Kimmel issued a public apology on his show

In fact, she addressed the Emmy controversy well before she appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! She was asked how she felt about Kimmel's antics by Variety, and she clarified that she was not offended by what happened.

"I know Jimmy Kimmel, and ... I felt like the bit didn't bother me that much," she explained. "I don't know what the internet thinks." Brunson went on to become the first African American woman to win the Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy the following year, so she obviously did not let the controversy slow her down.