Was Will Smith at the 2024 Emmys? Technically no, but there was a Will Smith present.
That was what Slow Horses creator Will Smith had to clarify when he took the stage at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles Sept. 15 accept the award for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series. (Click here for all the red carpet arrivals and click here for the complete list of winners.)
After beating out The Crown's Peter Morgan and Meriel Sheibani-Clare, Fallout's Geneva Robertson-Dworet and Graham Wagner, Mr. & Mrs. Smith's Francesca Sloane and Donald Glover as well as Shogun writers Justin Marks Rachel Kondo and Caillin Puente for the prize, he noted to the crowd that he was not to be confused for the Oscar-winning actor.
"First of all, relax," the screenwriter began his acceptance speech. "Despite my name, I come in peace."
The remark seemingly referenced the King Richard star's appearance at the 2022 Academy Awards, during which he slapped Chris Rock on stage for making a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith's shaved head.
So, where was the Men in Black alum during the Emmys? He was spotted hitting up the 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix hours before the award show.
"Paddock crashin’ with my guy @lewishamilton @lewishamilton (no kidnap this time) and @charles_leclerc @carlossainz55," he wrote in a Sept. 15 Instagram post, tagging the Formula 1 icons. "Have a good race y’all."
But don't discount Smith—the actor, not the writer—from making an Emmys appearance in the future. Though he was hit with a 10-year ban from the Oscars for his behavior toward Rock, he has been making his way to other award shows.
In fact, the Fresh Prince debuted his original song "You Can Make It" during a pyrotechnics-filled performance at the 2024 BET Awards in June. And during the show, Glover—who was up against the other Will Smith at this year's Emmys—joked about the rapper having a similar name to another music superstar.
"I have more Grammys than Will Smith, which makes no sense," he noted at the time. "But I have the same amount of BET Awards as Sam Smith."
And for more Emmy winners, keep reading...
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
Matt Bomer, Fellow Travelers
WINNER: Richard Gadd, Baby Reindeer
Jon Hamm, Fargo
Tom Hollander, Feud: Capote vs. The Swans
Andrew Scott, Ripley
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
WINNER: Jodie Foster, True Detective: Night Country
Brie Larson, Lessons in Chemistry
Juno Temple, Fargo
Sofía Vergara, Griselda
Naomi Watts, Feud: Capote vs. The Swans
Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie
Dakota Fanning, Ripley
Lily Gladstone, Under The Bridge
WINNER: Jessica Gunning, Baby Reindeer
Aja Naomi King, Lessons in Chemistry
Diane Lane, Feud: Capote vs. The Swans
Nava Mau, Baby Reindeer
Kali Reis, True Detective: Night Country
Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie
Jonathan Bailey, Fellow Travelers
John Hawkes, True Detective: Night Country
Robert Downey Jr., The Sympathizer
WINNER: Lamorne Morris, Fargo
Tom Goodman-Hill, Baby Reindeer
Treat Williams, Feud: Capote vs. The Swans
Outstanding Limited Or Anthology Series
WINNER: Baby Reindeer
Fargo
Lessons in Chemistry
Ripley
True Detective: Night Country
Outstanding Talk Series
WINNER: The Daily Show
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Late Night With Seth Meyers
The Late Show With Stephen Colbert
Outstanding Reality Competition Program
The Amazing Race
Top Chef
RuPaul’s Drag Race
WINNER: The Traitors
The Voice
Outstanding Drama Series
The Crown
Mr. & Mrs. Smith
Fallout
WINNER: Shogun
The Gilded Age
Slow Horses
The Morning Show
3 Body Problem
Outstanding Comedy Series
Abbott Elementary
The Bear
Curb Your Enthusiasm
WINNER: Hacks
Only Murders In The Building
Palm Royale
Reservation Dogs
What We Do In The Shadows
Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series
Christine Baranski, The Gilded Age
Greta Lee, The Morning Show
Nicole Beharie, The Morning Show
Lesley Manville, The Crown
WINNER: Elizabeth Debicki, The Crown
Karen Pittman, The Morning Show
Holland Taylor, The Morning Show
Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series
Tadanobu Asano, Shogun
WINNER: Billy Crudup, The Morning Show
Mark Duplass, The Morning Show
Jon Hamm, The Morning Show
Takehiro Hira, Shogun
Jack Lowden, Slow Horses
Jonathan Pryce, The Crown
Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy Series
Carol Burnett, Palm Royale
WINNER: Liza Colón-Zayas, The Bear
Hannah Einbinder, Hacks
Janelle James, Abbott Elementary
Sheryl Lee Ralph, Abbott Elementary
Meryl Streep, Only Murders in the Building
Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series
Lionel Boyce, The Bear
Paul Rudd, Only Murders in the Building
Paul W. Downs, Hacks
Tyler James Williams, Abbott Elementary
WINNER: Ebon Moss-Bachrach, The Bear
Bowen Yang, Saturday Night Live
Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series
Idris Elba, Hijack
WINNER: Hiroyuki Sanada, Shogun
Walton Goggins, Fallout
Dominic West, The Crown
Donald Glover, Mr. & Mrs. Smith
Gary Oldman, Slow Horses
Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series
Jennifer Aniston, The Morning Show
WINNER: Anna Sawai, Shogun
Carrie Coon, The Gilded Age
Imelda Staunton, The Crown
Maya Erskine, Mr. & Mrs. Smith
Reese Witherspoon, The Morning Show
Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series
Quinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary
Maya Rudolph, Loot
Ayo Edebiri, The Bear
WINNER: Jean Smart, Hacks
Selena Gomez, Only Murders in the Building
Kristen Wiig, Palm Royale
Outstanding Lead Actor In A Comedy Series
Matt Berry, What We Do In The Shadows
Larry David, Curb Your Enthusiasm
Steve Martin, Only Murders In The Building
Martin Short, Only Murders In The Building
WINNER: Jeremy Allen White, The Bear
D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tie, Reservation Dogs