Hannah Einbinder Wins First Emmy for 'Hacks' With Bold Speech on Politics and Gratitude
Hannah Einbinder, star of the acclaimed HBO comedy Hacks, earned her first Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series at the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards. The win followed three consecutive years of nominations in the same category.
Hannah Einbinder wins her first Emmy for Hacks, delivering gratitude, political remarks, and a nod to her colleagues and co-star Jean Smart.
Christopher Polk
A Speech Mixing Gratitude, Humor, and Politics
Einbinder opened her speech with a nod to her previous losses, joking that “it was actually cooler to continue to lose,” before adding, “but this is cool too! This is also punk rock.” She went on to thank Hacks creators Jen Statsky, Paul W. Downs, and Lucia Aniello for transforming her career and becoming her chosen family.
The actor also expressed admiration for her co-star and fellow winner Jean Smart, calling her “like a sun” whose presence brings warmth to everyone around her.
Political Statement at the Emmys
Einbinder closed her remarks with one of the ceremony’s most political moments, saying, “Go Birds, fuck ICE and free Palestine.” Though the profanity was muted on the broadcast, her message was still heard.
Her comments came days after she joined more than 3,900 entertainment industry figures in signing an open letter pledging to boycott Israeli institutions and film companies allegedly tied to human rights violations. Paramount, parent company of the Emmy broadcaster CBS, later issued a statement opposing the boycott, affirming support for Israeli filmmakers.
Clarification in the Press Room
After the ceremony, Einbinder explained the motivation behind her remarks. She cited personal connections to friends working as frontline doctors and educators in Gaza and described the boycott as a strategy to pressure institutions, not individuals. As a Jewish actor, she emphasized the importance of distinguishing Jewish identity from the policies of the Israeli state.
Career Highlights Beyond the Emmys
Einbinder has been nominated at the Golden Globes three times and earlier this year won a Critics Choice Award for her role as Ava Daniels on Hacks. She also released her first HBO Max comedy special, Hannah Einbinder: Everything Must Go, and is set to star alongside Gillian Anderson in the upcoming film Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma, directed by Jane Schoenbrun and produced by Mubi and Plan B.
About Hacks and the Competition
On Hacks, Einbinder plays Ava Daniels, a comedy writer navigating her career while working with legendary stand-up comedian Deborah Vance, portrayed by Jean Smart. The show’s fourth season sees Ava advancing to the role of head writer on Deborah’s newly secured late-night talk show.
Einbinder’s Emmy win placed her ahead of nominees including last year’s winner Liza Colón-Zayas (The Bear), Catherine O’Hara (The Studio), Kathryn Hahn (The Studio), Jenelle James (Abbott Elementary), Sheryl Lee Ralph (Abbott Elementary), and Jessica Williams (Shrinking).
The 77th Emmy Awards aired live on CBS and streamed on Paramount+, produced by Jesse Collins Entertainment.