Keri Russell seen chiding partner Matthew Rhys in awkward behind the scenes footage after he snubbed her in Emmys speech TWICE
Keri Russell appeared to chide her partner Matthew Rhys in behind-the-scenes footage after he snubbed her twice in his Emmys victory speeches.
Rhys returned to his table with his longtime partner Russell after winning his second Emmy of the night on Monday, which marked the first time a star has won two lead actor awards in one night.
The Welsh actor surprised viewers when he forgot to thank – or even mention – Russell in his speeches.
In footage shared by Yahoo News reporter Taryn Ryder, Russell appeared to swat Rhys’s hand away as he wrapped her up for a picture with a photographer.
She then pulled Rhys in close and kissed his cheek for the cameras, before they sat down and she spoke to him, and patted her hand on his shoulder.
Keri Russell was appeared to chide her partner Matthew Rhys in behind-the-scenes footage after he snubbed her twice in his Emmy victory speeches, as she swatted his hand away when he tried to wrap her up for a picture with a photographer
Widow’s Bay was the biggest winner at the Emmy Awards 2026 as it swept the ceremony with leading man Matthew Rhys made history as the first actor to win two leading acting gongs in different categories in one night
After Rhys’s name was called the first time, his costar Danes jumped to her feet and looked shocked as her mouth hung open. She stretched her arms out for a hug, and she and Rhys briefly rocked back and forth while she touched his face
It is unclear what Russell said in the moment, with fans speculating that the hand-swat was a reaction to Rhys failing to mention his partner of 12-years in his speeches at the awards ceremony.
‘Why did she push his hand away?’ questioned one viewer on X. ‘I hope they don’t break up.’
Following the snubs, Rhys appeared to try and cover his tracks as he declared that he would not display his Emmy gongs in his home until Russell also collects one of the awards.
When asked in a backstage interview: ‘Where are you going to put your two Emmys? Where are they going to go?’
Matthew explained the Emmy he won for The Americans is in the basement.
He told Variety: ‘It’s a long story. It’s in the basement because I kind of said when Keri wins one, I’ll take mine out.’
During his first acceptance speech of the night for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie, which he won for The Beast in Me, Rhys failed to utter the name of the 50-year-old actress, whom he fell in love with while they were starring together on The Americans.
Shockingly, Rhys didn’t even appear to glance at Russell in his shock as he got up to accept the award, but he did stop to hug an overjoyed Claire Danes, his costar in The Beast in Me.
Rhys had the good fortune to score a rare opportunity to remedy the slight when he was called up to the stage later in the broadcast when he won his second award of the evening, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for his Apple TV+ horror–comedy Widow’s Bay.
But Rhys again failed to mention Russell during his second acceptance speech.
Matthew Rhys shocked the audience of the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards on Monday when he broke a record by winning two lead actor awards in a single night. But the 51-year-old Welsh actor also stunned viewers at home when he failed to thank – or even mention – his longtime partner, Keri Russell
Despite Rhys apparently snubbing his partner of 12 years, Russell suggested she was still fully supporting him when she was seen letting out a big cheer and applauding enthusiastically from their table when Rhys won his second award of the night
Rhys again didn’t mention Russell during his second win, yet he managed to thank his parents and sister, who was at the ceremony
After his name was called the first time, his costar Danes jumped to her feet and looked shocked as her mouth hung open.
She stretched her arms out for a hug, and she and Rhys briefly rocked back and forth while she touched his face, before he marched up to the stage.
‘Matthew Rhys doesn’t even look at Keri Russell next to him, and doesn’t thank her,’ one user on X wrote as they posted a video of the NBC broadcast that they shot on their phone from their TV of the enthusiastic hug.
Rhys took a confrontational stance with his first win when he began his speech by warning, ‘If you try to turn me off, I’ll stab you in the eyes with this [award].’
‘This is a real shock, not least because of the caliber and company of the actors in this program,’ he said as he thanked his Beast in Me colleagues and his costar, Claire Danes.
‘Thank you for letting me join the mystery machine. Intimidating scene partner, but I’m very grateful for all this,’ he gushed before heading off stage.
After he broke the record and returned for his second acceptance speech for Widow’s Bay, Rhys joked, ‘My apologies to the women who had to stand.’
In the audience, Martin Short was seen on the broadcast comically tearing up his acceptance speech after losing out on the award.
‘This is purely because of the depraved and twisted mind of [Widow’s Bay creator] Katie [Dippold], and her genius really does live in the recesses of her disturbed brain,’ Rhys said.
Toward the end of his speech, Rhys made sure to thank multiple family members, including his parents and his sister, whom he mentioned was in the audience.
‘She was the brains of the outfit all along,’ he joked, adding, ‘Thank you for all the sage words and patient listening.’
‘Matthew Rhys doesn’t even look at Keri Russell next to him, and doesn’t thank her,’ one user on X wrote as they posted a video of the NBC broadcast that they shot on their phone from their TV of the enthusiastic hug
Rhys skipped the hug for his second win, though Danes still jumped to her feet to applaud the special moment
Despite Rhys apparently snubbing his partner of 12 years, Russell suggested she was still fully supporting him when she was seen letting out a big cheer and applauding enthusiastically from their table when Rhys won his second award of the night.
‘THE CHEER FROM HER…… all that matters all that matters,’ wrote one user on X who posted video of the moment.
In a video posted to X, Yahoo Entertainment reporter Taryn Ryder shared video taken from inside the theater showing Rhys returning with one of his Emmys to embrace Russell and pose with her for a photographer.
After the photographer had enough snaps, the two actors leaned in for a kiss to cement the honor.
It was a night of disappointment for Russell, who lost out on her single nomination, for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for The Diplomat, to Pluribus star Rhea Seehorn.