Major Emmy snubs 2025: 'Squid Game,' 'Handmaid's Tale,' and Selena Gomez left out as Uzo Aduba surprises
A wave of surprise and disappointment has swept through Hollywood following the announcement of the 2025 Emmy nominations. Industry veterans and breakout stars alike were noticeably absent from this year’s ballot, marking a year of bold departures from past voting trends.
2025 Emmys bring shocking snubs: ‘Squid Game’ and ‘Handmaid’s Tale’ miss big, Selena Gomez left out, Uzo Aduba lands surprise acting nod.
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Notably, Netflix’s global phenomenon Squid Game was completely shut out. After sweeping six awards in 2022—including best drama actor for Lee Jung-jae—the Korean thriller’s second season failed to secure a single nod. The show's highly anticipated third and final season will remain eligible next year, but its absence this year left industry watchers puzzled.
One of the most jarring snubs came for Hulu’s The Handmaid’s Tale, which once dominated the Emmys landscape. Despite its legacy as a former best drama series winner, the dystopian saga landed just one nomination: a guest actress nod for Cherry Jones. Its star, Elisabeth Moss, was excluded not only from the acting categories but also from potential directing recognition, despite critical praise.
Other high-profile omissions included FX’s The Bear, which had been expected to continue its strong Emmy presence, and Showtime’s Yellowjackets, which previously earned ten nominations over its first two seasons but was completely overlooked for its third. Jon Hamm, a staple at the Emmys during his Mad Men era, failed to rejoin the race with his return to TV in Your Friends & Neighbors, which only managed a nod for its theme song.
The list of overlooked contenders grew longer with Only Murders in the Building’s Selena Gomez, who was surprisingly absent after earning her first acting nomination last year. Disney+’s Andor received 14 nominations, but its star Diego Luna didn’t make the cut. Patrick Schwarzenegger, part of HBO’s The White Lotus, also found himself excluded, along with fellow cast members Sam Nivola, Michelle Monaghan, and Leslie Bibb.
Allison Janney, a multiple-time Emmy and Oscar winner, did not receive recognition for her role in The Diplomat, nor did Eddie Redmayne for Day of the Jackal or Chase Sui Wonders for The Studio, despite the series pulling in 23 nominations. Rhenzy Feliz (The Penguin), Jacob Anderson (Interview With the Vampire), and Nicholas Alexander Chavez (Monsters) were among other surprise omissions from individual acting categories.
With the talk series category trimmed down to just three slots, notable names like Late Night With Seth Meyers, Hot Ones, and Everybody’s Live With John Mulaney missed out entirely. Even in the stand-up realm, neither Seth Meyers nor Jamie Foxx received recognition for their Netflix specials—Dad Man Walking and What Had Happened Was—with Foxx’s near-fatal medical emergency being central to his routine.
Yet amidst the sea of snubs, some unexpected names emerged. Meghann Fahy secured a best actress nomination in a limited series for her performance in Sirens, despite the series being overlooked elsewhere. Perhaps more surprising was Uzo Aduba’s nomination for best actress in a comedy series for The Residence, a show canceled after its first season. Though the series faced an early end, Aduba’s portrayal received widespread acclaim.
Also making an unexpected showing was Hulu’s Paradise, which exceeded predictions by landing several high-profile nominations. Amazon’s Étoile, co-created by Amy Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino, managed to earn two nominations even after Prime Video disclosed it would not proceed with a second season before voting began.
