Marla Gibbs Receives Standing Ovation at Emmy Awards

Marla Gibbs, the iconic TV actress known for her roles in The Jeffersons and 227, received a standing ovation at the Emmy Awards on Monday night. The 92-year-old star stunned in a long-sleeve black velvet gown with jeweled embellishments on the red carpet.

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Gibbs, accompanied by Emmy winner Quinta Brunson from Abbott Elementary, took the stage to present the award for supporting actress in a limited anthology series or movie. Nominees included Annaleigh Ashford, Camila Morrone, Claire Danes, Juliette Lewis, Maria Bello, Merritt Wever, and Niecy Nash-Betts.

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The moment Gibbs entered the stage, the crowd erupted into applause, giving her a well-deserved standing ovation. Brunson expressed her awe at sharing the stage with someone whose career has spanned decades and asked Gibbs about her secret to longevity in Hollywood.

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Gibbs, displaying her trademark humor, replied, “That’s easy, baby: the wage gap.” Her response elicited laughter from the audience. She went on to tell Brunson that she still had 20 more years to work before retirement but joked that if Brunson created a role for her, she would keep on working to close the wage gap. Gibbs ended her quip with the classic saying, “Black don’t crack!”

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Throughout her career, Gibbs has been nominated for the Emmy for outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series multiple times for her portrayal of the no-nonsense maid Florence Johnston on The Jeffersons. In 2021, she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, where she made another style statement with a flowy red floral dress.

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The 75th annual Primetime Emmy Awards were held at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles and broadcast on Fox.