Yahya Abdul-Mateen II Dedicates His Emmy to ‘All The Black Women’ in His Life

Photo: ABC

Doctor Manhattan is not only a god, he’s now also an Emmy winner. HBO’s Watchmen continued its Emmy domination with a win for Yahya Abdul-Mateen II for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series. A clearly surprised and emotional Abdul-Mateen thanked his parents before shouting out his hometowns. “I want to give out to West Oakland, all of New Orleans, and the Magnolia Projects,� said Abdul-Mateen. “There’s a lot of people from where I’m from making a lot of noise right now, and I love y’all so much.� He also shouted out his fellow Emmy winners, Watchmen creator Damon Lindelof, and his co-star Regina King for being “the best partner that I could ask for.�

Then Abdul-Mateen described the social importance of the series and singled out the role that Black women have played in his life and his journey. “Watchmen was a story about trauma,� said Abdul-Mateen. “It was a story about the lasting scars of white domestic violence,� before correcting himself and saying the series was about “white domestic terrorism� as well as police brutality and corruption. “In the midst of all that, it was also about a god who came down to earth to reciprocate to a Black woman all the love that she deserved. He’d offer her sacrifice and support, passion, protection. And he did all of this in the body of a Black man, and I’m so proud I was able to walk into those shoes.� Abdul-Mateen went on to dedicate his Emmy Award to Black women. “So, I dedicate this award to all the Black women in my life, the people who believed in me first — I call you my early investors. I love you. I appreciate you, and this one is for you.�