John Leguizamo Flips Script On Right-Wing 'DEI Hire' Insult At Emmys

John Leguizamo delivered a searing speech about diversity and representation during the 2024 Emmys on Sunday night.

While presenting onstage, Leguizamo began his remarks by calling himself one of “Hollywood’s DEI hires.”

“That’s right, DEI: the ‘D’ is for diligence, the ‘E’ is for excellence, the ‘I’ is for imagination,” he said. “Everyone in this room tonight has dedicated their lives to diligence, excellence and imagination, so we all are DEI hires.”

The Latino actor then talked about growing up in New York City and not seeing people who looked like him onscreen.

“I saw a lot of brownface. I saw Marlon Brando play a Mexican in ‘Viva Zapata!’ and Al Pacino played Cuban gangster Tony Montana and Natalie Wood played a Puerto Rican beauty named Maria,” he said, “Everybody played us.”

Leguizamo also talked about his efforts to boost representation of people of color on TV and at the Emmys.

In June, he took out a full-page ad in the New York Times and published an open letter urging the Television Academy to consider more candidates of color.

John Leguizamo photographed while speaking onstage during the 76th Emmy Awards in Los Angeles on September 15, 2024.

Conservatives have turned the term DEI — which refers to programs that promote diversity, equity and inclusion — into a disparaging dog whistle, and use the phrase “DEI hire” to suggest members of marginalized groups don’t actually earn their achievements.

During the 2024 presidential campaign, Republicans have lobbed attacks against Vice President Kamala Harris, now the Democratic presidential nominee, referring to her as a “DEI hire.”