10 Biggest Emmy snubs of 2025: Squid Game, Selena Gomez, The Handmaid’s Tale and more

Squid Game season 2

The South Korean thriller starring Lee Jung Jae and Lee Byung Hun, which aired the franchise’s finale this year, was among the most looked-forward sequels given the first season walked away with six trophies in 2022. But its second season, which dropped in December 2024, didn’t score a single nomination. Fan-favourite character Thanos (played by T.O.P), who became a breakout hit, failed to clinch a nod. For a show that dominated the cultural conversation, this shutout was a disappointment.

Steve Martin & Selena Gomez – Only Murders in the Building

Hulu’s hit Only Murders in the Building has always been an Emmy darling, with its lead stars rarely missing from the nominations. However, this time only Short was nominated, while both Martin and Gomez were left out.

Patrick Schwarzenegger – The White Lotus

While HBO hit The White Lotus took several nods for the night, with almost everyone getting a nomination, Patrick Schwarzenegger’s snub alone was the biggest shocker. Critics have praised his character, calling him the emotional heart of the season. Emmy voters missed that memo.

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Diego Luna – Andor

Andor, the story of Rebel spy Cassian, did earn an Emmy nomination, a well-deserved Best Drama Series, but contrary to expectations, the lead star, Diego Luna, got nothing. Aside from him, co-stars Stellan Skarsgård and Genevieve O’Reilly were also left out despite giving one of their best performances to date. Critics have repeatedly praised Luna’s brilliant acting chops in the Star Wars spin-off, but the Emmys didn’t bite.

Natasha Lyonne – Poker Face

Safe to say, Natasha Lyonne carried Poker Face on her back for two seasons. Yet despite being nominated last year, she didn’t make the cut this time. The show did score two nominations, one of which is for Cynthia Erivo’s multi-character guest role. But still, fans believe Lyonne’s detective character is the show’s entire spine.

Elisabeth Moss – The Handmaid’s Tale

The Handmaid’s Tale is one of the Emmy panel’s favourites, having returned for nominations almost every year. However, for its final season, the show only picked up one nomination, and that too for Cherry Jones in a guest role. Moss, who had already earned an Emmy for the franchise as the lead, was left out completely. Even more surprising, she didn’t land a directing nod either, despite strong behind-the-camera work this season.

Melanie Lynskey & Yellowjackets

After a spectacular Emmy run in the past, clinching 10 nominations across Seasons 1 and 2, including multiple nods for Lynskey, Yellowjackets got none this year. Even with a darker, more complex third season, the survival thriller received zero nominations.

Bridget Everett – Somebody Somewhere

Somebody Somewhere, with its quiet yet superlative comedy, became a fan favourite on HBO and ended its three-season run to critical praise. Jeff Hiller got a nomination, and the show was solely recognised for its script. But Bridget Everett, the emotional anchor and the lead of the series, was snubbed. Given how much of the show’s magic came from her grounded, quiet performance, this one’s tough to ignore.

Keira Knightley – Black Doves

There was plenty of buzz around Knightley’s performance in Netflix’s popular spy series, Black Doves. Speculations were rife that she would surely lead the nominations this year. But in a year where Slow Horses ate up all the spy-love, Black Doves was completely shut out, no acting, no writing, nothing.

Ted Danson – A Man on the Inside

Ted is an Emmy regular but didn’t land a single nod this year. His show, A Man on the Inside, also went unnoticed across the board. For someone who’s been an awards fixture since Cheers, the silent treatment is disappointing.

Some honourable mentions

• Jon Hamm (Your Friends & Neighbors) – Snubbed despite a strong return to TV.
• Uzo Aduba’s show, The Residence: Nominated, but the show’s cancellation after one year makes it a rare outlier.
• Renee Zellweger (Bridget Jones TV movie) – Ignored completely in a year that had room.
• Pedro Pascal – Landed a Best Actor nod for The Last of Us, despite dying in episode two.