Michaela Coel accepts Emmy for writing

Michaela Coel’s acceptance speech for Outstanding Writing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Film, won for Brilliant I can destroy you, It may already have established itself as the highlight of this year’s Emmy Awards. Coel’s short and piercing speech came after The Queen’s Gambit Director Scott Frank gave a spiel that was anything but, and it made Coel’s acceptance all the more powerful in contrast. Coel took a moment to muster his courage before taking the stage and dedicating these words to the writers: “Write the story that scares you, that makes you feel uncertain, that isn’t comfortable. I dare you. In a world that prompts us to walk the lives of others to help us better determine what we think about ourselves and, in turn, to feel the need to be constantly visible – because visibility these days, somehow seems to be synonymous with success – don’t be afraid to disappear. From there, from us, for a while. And see what comes to you in the silence. Coel ended the speech with a few thanks, adding, “I dedicate this story to every survivor of sexual assault.” To pack so much into a speech that didn’t work overtime? This is why she is a Emmy Award Winner writer.