Daytime Emmy Awards Red Carpet Hosts Generate Controversy With Rape Joke, Racism
The hosts of the Daytime Emmy Awards red carpet show caused a stir with some controversial statements to attendees including racially inflamed language and rape jokes.
The show was broadcast by the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, which held an open casting call for hosts.
The organization called for “millennials between the ages of 18-35… who have a strong entertainment news background and-or very strong social media following (300,000 followers minimum)” and ended up with four unknowns — Brittany Furlan, Lauren Elizabeth, Jessica Harlow, and Meghan Rosette.
But the quartet quickly gained attention. The Daytime Emmy hosts made a number of egregious statements, including a joke about pedophilia toward The Young and the Restless alum Daniel Polo. Furlan flirted with the actor, saying “I don’t want to go to jail for this one.” When she learned that he was just barely of age, Furlan remarked, “Oh, so he’s legal!”
Furlan was flirtatious with every male that she interviewed, even telling General Hospital actor Ryan Paevey, “We’re going to get you away from us before we rape you.”
The other Daytime Emmy Awards red carpet hosts had their own forehead-slapping moments. Harlan introduced actor Bold and the Beautiful actor Lawrence Saint-Victor as “a beautiful chocolate man,” and then asked, “What’s it like to be a black man on a soap opera these days?”
There were several other controversial moments, many of which were gathered by the site TVLine. Many people took to Twitter to sound off about their behavior.
Hey #daytimeemmys maybe hire some red carpet “hosts” w a little less black and rape jokes next year. These girls have the verbal runs.
— Brandon Barash (@BrandonBarash) June 22, 2014
Think I’d rather eat @SHAQ‘s belly button lint than watch those #daytimeemmys red carpet “hosts” again.
— Brandon Barash (@BrandonBarash) June 23, 2014
I’m gonna need heads to roll over this fiasco. Like, seriously. Heads. To. Roll. #DaytimeEmmys
— Soaps In Depth ABC (@soapsindepthabc) June 22, 2014
Many are calling on NATAS to apologize for the behavior of the Daytime Emmy hosts on the red carpet, but the organization has remained quiet.
