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, 51, was seen in a frosty moment with his longtime partner Russell, 50, after receiving his second honor on Monday, which marked the first time a star has won two lead actor awards in one night. 

The Welshman surprised viewers when he forgot to thank – or even mention – Russell in his speeches at the ceremony in Los Angeles. 

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, patting her hand on his shoulder.

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. 

Widow’s Bay was the biggest winner at Monday’s Emmys. Rhys made history as the first star to take home two leading acting honors in different categories in one night

After Rhys’s name was called the first time, his co-star Claire Danes jumped to her feet and looked shocked. She stretched her arms out for a hug, and she and Rhys briefly rocked back and forth while she touched his face

‘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 Emmys 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.’

Speaking to the press after his two wins, Rhys also joked that his family had been taking bets on whether he or Russell would scoop the awards on Monday night. 

‘Its not playful, its all serious,’ he quipped. ‘I put a lot of money on myself… It’s gonna be a rough week for her.’

Rhys then praised his partner as ‘always a class act’, and said Russell ‘is always really the winner, and I think next year she might get one.’

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.

In his shock, Rhys didn’t even appear to glance at Russell as he got up to accept the award, but he did stop to hug an overjoyed Claire Danes, his co-star 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.

Rhys and his longtime partner, Keri Russell, at Monday night’s Emmys in Los Angeles

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, 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 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

Emmy Awards 2026 winners

Outstanding Drama Series

The Diplomat

The Gilded Age

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms

Paradise

The Pitt – WINNER

Pluribus

Slow Horses

Your Friends and Neighbors

Noah Wyle led The Pitt to an Outstanding Drama Series honor

 

Outstanding Comedy Series

Abbott Elementary

The Bear

Hacks

Margo’s Got Money Troubles

Nobody Wants This

Only Murders in the Building

Shrinking

Widow’s Bay – WINNER

 

Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series

All Her Fault

The Beast in Me

Beef

DTF St Louis – WINNER

Love Story: John F Kennedy Jr & Carolyn Bessette

 

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series

Carrie Coon, The Gilded Age

Chase Infiniti, The Testaments

Keri Russell, The Diplomat

Rhea Seehorn, Pluribus – WINNER

Zendaya, Euphoria

Rhea Seehorrn was recognized for her work in Pluribus

 

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series

Sterling K Brown, Paradise

Gary Oldman, Slow Horses

Mark Ruffalo, Task

Rufus Sewell, The Diplomat

Noah Wyle, The Pitt – WINNER

 

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Taylor Dearden, The Pitt

Fiona Dourif, The Pitt

Allison Janney, The Diplomat – WINNER

Katherine LaNasa, The Pitt

Sepideh Moafi, The Pitt

Julianne Nicholson, Paradise

Karolina Wydra, Pluribus

 

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

Patrick Ball, The Pitt

Billy Crudup, The Morning Show

Shawn Hatosy, The Pitt

Gerran Howell, The Pitt

Jack Lowden, Slow Horses

Tom Pelphrey, Task – WINNER

Carlos-Manuel Vesga, Pluribus

 

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

Quinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary

Ayo Edebiri, The Bear

Elle Fanning, Margo’s Got Money Troubles

Lisa Kudrow, The Comeback

Jean Smart, Hacks – WINNER

 

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Wonder Man

Steve Carell, Rooster

Matthew Rhys, Widow’s Bay – WINNER

Jason Segel, Shrinking

Martin Short, Only Murders in the Building

Dale Dickey, Widow’s Bay 

Matthew Rhys became the first actor to win two leading actor awards in one night 

 

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

Hannah Einbinder, Hacks

Janelle James, Abbott Elementary

Kate O’Flynn, Widow’s Bay – WINNER

Michelle Pfeiffer, Margo’s Got Money Troubles

Megan Stalter, Hacks

Jessica Williams, Shrinking

 

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

Colman Domingo, The Four Seasons

Paul W Downs, Hacks

Harrison Ford, Shrinking

Nick Offerman, Margo’s Got Money Troubles

Stephen Root, Widow’s Bay – WINNER

Michael Urie, Shrinking

Tyler James Williams, Abbott Elementary

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie

Claire Danes, The Beast in Me

Sally Field, Remarkably Bright Creatures – WINNER

Carey Mulligan, Beef

Sarah Pidgeon, Love Story: John F Kennedy Jr & Carolyn Bessette

Sarah Snook, All Her Fault

Sally Field was a surprise winner for Remarkably Bright Creatures

 

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie

Riz Ahmed, Bait

Jason Bateman, Black Rabbit

Charlie Hunnam, Monster: The Ed Gein Story

Oscar Isaac, Beef

Matthew Rhys, The Beast in Me – WINNER

 

Outstanding Reality Competition Program

Dancing With the Stars

RuPaul’s Drag Race

Survivor

Top Chef

The Traitors – WINNER

 

Outstanding Variety Series

The Daily Show

Jimmy Kimmel Live

Last Week Tonight With John Oliver

The Late Show With Stephen Colbert – WINNER

Saturday Night Live

Stephen Colbert earned an Emmy for his now-canceled talk show

Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series

The Diplomat (Peter Akerman and Debora Cahn for ‘Amagansett’)

The Pitt (Kirsten Pierre-Geyfman & R. Scott Gemmill for ‘1pm’)

The Pitt (Valerie Chu for ’12pm’)

Industry (Mickey Down and Konrad Kay for ‘Dear Henry’)

Pluribus (Vince Gilligan for ‘We Is Us’) – WINNER

Slow Horses (Will Smith for ‘Scars’)

Task (Brad Ingelsby for ‘A Still Small Voice’)

 

Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series

Abbott Elementary (Quinta Brunson for ‘Team Building’)

The Chair Company (Tim Robinson and Zach Kanin for ‘Life goes by too f**king fast, it really does’)

The Comeback (Michael Patrick King and Lisa Kudrow for ‘Valerie Does It All’)

Hacks (Lucia Aniello, Paul W Downs, and Jen Statsky for ‘Hacks’)

Jury Duty Presents: Company Retreat (Anthony King for ‘Mergers and Acquisitions’)

Widow’s Bay (Katie Dippold for ‘Welcome to Widow’s Bay’) – WINNER

Katie Dippold had a massive night as she also earned an outstanding writing win

 

Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series

The Gilded Age (Salli Richardson-Whitfield for ‘My Mind Is Made Up’)

Paradise (Hanelle M Culpepper for ‘Exodus’)

The Pitt (Noah Wyle for ’12pm’)

Pluribus (Vince Gilligan for ‘We Is Us’)

Slow Horses (Saul Metzstein for ‘Scars’) – WINNER

Task (Salli Richardson-Whitfield for ‘Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a river’)

 

Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series

Abbott Elementary (Randall Einhorn for ‘Ballgame’)

The Bear (Christopher Storer for ‘Bears’)

The Chair Company (Andrew DeYoung for ‘Life goes by too f**king fast, it really does’)

Hacks (Lucia Aniello for ‘Hacks’)

The Ms Pat Show (Mary Lou Belli for Give It Arrest)

Widow’s Bay (Hiro Murai for ‘Welcome to Widow’s Bay’) – WINNER

Widow’s Bay’s Hiro Murai earned Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series

 

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 a 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. She had been put forward for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for The Diplomat but was beaten by Pluribus star Rhea Seehorn.