Exclusively released on Disney+ last summer, Beyoncé’s Black Is King offered fans a visual version of her popular soundtrack album “The Lion King: The Gift,” complete with an homage to the vast culture in Africa as well as phenomenal outfit and hair designs. Fast forward to 2021, and fans are upset at what some view as a snub from the Emmys, who recently released their nominations for this year’s award ceremony.
Dragging the Emmys for failing to acknowledge the impact and effort behind Black Is King, many fans took to Twitter to vent their frustrations.
In a viral tweet, one fan wrote, “BLACK IS KING not getting Emmy nominations for hair, makeup, and costume design (at the very least) just may be my villain origin story,”
BLACK IS KING not getting Emmy nominations for hair, makeup, and costume design (at the very least) just may be my villain origin story pic.twitter.com/b1WOZcUpxZ
— black boy bulletin (he/him) (@blkboybulletin) July 13, 2021
“Black Is King” is an interesting project to consider as an example of what Emmy voters gravitate toward and what they snub.
— Toraino (@iTorainoo) July 16, 2021
Another person commented on Twitter, “It’s still absolutely insane to me that Black Is King didn’t even receive a hairstyling nom at the Emmys while Dancing with the Stars, SNL, and the fucking VOICE did,”
It’s still absolutely insane to me that Black Is King didn’t even receive a hairstyling nom at the Emmys while Dancing with the Stars, SNL, and the fucking VOICE did
— Dan (@dannah__montana) July 16, 2021
Black is King was too powerful and immaculate for the Emmys to comprehend pic.twitter.com/KoL4O2p571
— Nalá (@BoricuaHive) July 13, 2021
black is king wasn’t nominated for any #Emmys ????? not even one????? it’s one of beyoncé’s best visual albums and it’s being payed DUST i… something ain’t right pic.twitter.com/RBDUQNvg0m
— adam hughes (@notadamhughes21) July 13, 2021
Black Is King featured the hit songs “Mood 4 Eva,” “ALREADY,” and “BROWN SKIN GIRL.” Neal Farinah, the entertainer’s veteran hairstylist, helped create many of Beyoncé’s extravagant hairdos in the Disney+ special.
According to Vogue, he worked in a team alongside celebrity hairstylist Kim Kimble to create the entertainer’s famous 30-foot long braids, featured in her video for “WATER,” and also collaborated with Beyoncé to create her various African inspired hairstyles.
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Zerina Akers, who served as a costume designer on Black Is King, spoke with The Hollywood Reporter in August 2020, telling the outlet about the film’s daring use of animal print, “I wanted to take these stereotypes that are often portrayed with black people, whether it be of African descent or in the diaspora, of how we represent luxury and how we project luxury and opulence…Wealth looks very different in black and white, and it really ties back to the decadence in many African cultures.”
