Oprah Winfrey sent Quinta Brunson and the cast and crew of the ABC series Abbott Elementary a massive floral bouquet Wednesday, following the show’s stellar showing at the 75th annual Primetime Emmy Awards Monday.
‘Thank you @Oprah for this small bouquet!’ Brunson, 34, said in an Instagram post, two days after she won the honors for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for her portrayal of Janine Teagues on the program.
The giant bouquet, a combination of dozen of pink and white roses, was placed on a table on a hallway on the set of the comedy series.
With the victory on Monday, Brunson became the first Black actress in more than four decades to claim the honor, which was last achieved in 1981 by the late Isabel Sanford for her work on The Jeffersons.
In her acceptance speech at the event at The Peacock Theater in Los Angeles Monday, Brunson told the crowd, ‘I love making Abbott Elementary so much and I am so happy to be able to live my dream and act out comedy, and I say it every time and I just love comedy so much that I am so happy to be able to get this.
Oprah Winfrey, 69, sent Quinta Brunson, 34, and the cast and crew of the ABC series Abbott Elementary a massive floral bouquet Wednesday, following the show’s stellar showing at the 75th annual Primetime Emmy Awards Monday
She added: ‘I didn’t prepare anything because I just didn’t think… oh God. I love my mom, my dad. My sisters, my brothers. My entire family so much. I love my husband. I’m so happy. I love my cast. Oh, I love Abbott Elementary. Thank you so much.’
The series, which focuses on a group of educators at a Philadelphia public school, also took the honors for Outstanding Comedy Series at this year’s Emmys.
Brunson received further plaudits and well-wishes in the comment section of the post, which includes reactions from actresses Jenna Ortega, Bresha Webb and America Ferrera; as well as social media personalities including Jackie Aina and Parker Kit Hill.
‘Yes OPRAH! Give our gurl her flowers!’ Webb said, while Parker said, ‘This is the biggest oprah bouquet i’ve ever seen. that is some well deserved love.’
Aina said, ‘This is insane omg,’ while Ortega said, ‘Legend’ with a pair of heart emojis.
In an Instagram Stories post, Brunson said, ‘Thank you to everyone who sent me king wishes and congratulations. I’m just getting around to them all. Thank you, thank you, thank you.’
Brunson had also been nominated for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for guest hosting Saturday Night Live, but lost out to Judith Light for her work on Poker Face.
In all, Abbott Elementary had been nominated for eight honors at Monday’s proceedings, as series regulars Tyler James Williams, Sheryl Lee Ralph and Janelle James and guest star Taraji P. Henson were also up for honors.
Brunson was seen peeking behind the enormous floral concoction, flanked by cast and crew members
The gesture from Oprah, pictured at the Critics Choice Awards this past Sunday, garnered impressed plaudits for Brunson from her colleagues and fans
Brunson won the honors for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for her portrayal of Janine Teagues on the program
With the victory on Monday, Brunson became the first Black actress in more than four decades to claim the honor, which was last achieved in 1981 by the late Isabel Sanford for her work on The Jeffersons
Abbott Elementary, which focuses on a group of educators at a Philadelphia public school, also took the honors for Outstanding Comedy Series at this year’s Emmys
In her emotional acceptance speech at the event at The Peacock Theater in Los Angeles Monday, Brunson told the crowd, ‘I love making Abbott Elementary so much and I am so happy to be able to live my dream and act out comedy’
Oprah welcomed Brunson for a November 2022 feature on her OWN network
Emmys 2024 WINNERS: AT A GLANCE
Drama Series: Succession
Actor in a Drama Series: Kieran Culkin – Succession
Actress in a Drama Series: Sarah Snook – Succession
Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: Matthew MacFadyen – Succession
Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: Jennifer Coolidge – The White Lotus
Limited Series: Beef
Actor in a Limited Series or TV Movie: Steven Yeun – Beef
Actress in a Limited Series or TV Movie: Ali Wong – Beef
Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or TV Movie: Paul Walter Hauser – Black Bird
Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or TV Movie: Niecy Nash-Betts – Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story
Comedy Series: The Bear
Actor in a Comedy Series: Jeremy Allen White – The Bear
Actress in a Comedy Series: Quinta Brunson – Abbott Elementary
Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series: Ebon Moss-Bachrach – The Bear
Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series: Ayo Edebiri – The Bear
Reality Competition Program: RuPaul’s Drag Race
Talk Series: The Daily Show With Trevor Noah
Scripted Variety Series: Last Week Tonight With John Oliver
Succession nearly swept the board with wins for Matthew MacFadyen, Sarah Snook, and Kieran Culkin (left to right)
Following her victorious night Monday, Brunson told Entertainment Tonight that she was ‘starting to’ exhale amid the frenetic time.
‘This show has been very emotional for me from beginning to end,’ Brunson said. ‘I feel like it’s such an underappreciated genre, and it’s the thing that raised me and like artistically guided me, so, you know. I get emotional about it.’
Abbott Elementary’s third season starts airing next month on ABC, beginning February 7 at 9/8c.
