Actor and comedian Seth Rogen has suggested he was blacklisted from the Emmy Awards after his unscripted remarks while presenting an award in 2021. During a recent guest spot on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Rogen explained that he has not been invited back to present at the Emmys since that incident, raising questions about retaliation by the Television Academy.
He shared,
“I presented there, I think it was, four years ago at this point, and I have not been invited back.”
This statement came amid his broader claims about a disconnect between promised safety measures and the reality of that year’s ceremony, which was heavily influenced by COVID-19 regulations.
Behind the Scenes at the 2021 Emmy Awards: Unexpected Conditions
The 2021 Emmy Awards were subject to strict COVID-19 protocols, but Rogen revealed that conditions were far from what was advertised. Instead of the expected outdoor setup, he found himself enclosed in a densely packed tent with hundreds of people. Expressing his frustration, he said,
“Let me start by saying there is way too many of us in this little room,”
followed by,
“What are we doing? They said this was outdoors. It’s not. They lied to us. We’re in a hermetically sealed tent right now. I would not have come to this. Why is there a roof?”
Rogen admitted that the misleading setup prompted him to deviate from the prepared script:
“It was true! They lied. They did lie. It said, ‘Outdoor event.’ And I had all intention of doing the dumb schtick that they had written for me, and then I showed up, and then I was like, ‘We’re in a tent. I can’t ignore this…Eugene Levy’s here! We’re gonna kill Eugene Levy? I don’t wanna do that.’”
Reactions and Fallout from Rogen’s Emmy Presentation
Following his unscripted comments, the producers of the Emmy ceremony reportedly expressed clear displeasure toward Rogen. He described them as “outwardly pissed off” after the event. On Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Kimmel, who has hosted the Emmys multiple times, joked at Rogen’s expense:
“I checked today because I’ve hosted the Emmys quite a few times, and you are indeed banned from presenting.”
Rogen responded with a mix of humor and bitterness:
“I’ve been blacklisted. I’m like you. They’re trying to silence me. You can’t win.”
He acknowledged the consequences of going off-script, admitting,
“I went very off-book and made them look bad. So, I get that.”
Despite Blacklisting, Rogen’s Work Continues to Receive Emmy Recognition
Although Seth Rogen may have been barred from presenting future Emmy awards, this has not affected his success as a nominee and winner. His Apple TV+ comedy series The Studio, which he created and stars in, led the 2025 Emmy Awards with 13 wins, including best comedy series and best lead actor in a comedy series. This contrast highlights the complexity of Rogen’s relationship with the Television Academy, where he remains a celebrated artist but a contentious presenter.
