Emmy Awards 2025: The Most Unbelievable Snubs That Left Critics and Fans Completely Stunned

The 2025 Emmy Awards nominations were announced on Tuesday, and it seems like the Television Academy is sticking to their guns when it comes to leaving behind some of the fan favourites from the year.

The nominations sparked widespread frustration and disbelief across social media and among critics, with several standout shows and performers shockingly overlooked in major categories.

While genre television continued to make headway with nominations for The Last of Us, Severance, and House of the Dragon, other deserving contenders were left out entirely, sending shockwaves through fan communities and leaving industry watchers baffled.

Andor: A Pool of Talent Was Ignored

Despite receiving 14 nominations, Disney+'s Andor, which is a political thriller wrapped in Star Wars robes, was glaringly snubbed in the acting categories. Only Forest Whitaker made the cut, leaving out Diego Luna, Fiona Shaw, Stellan Skarsgård, and Denise Gough, all of whom were widely praised for their complex and layered performances.

Online reaction was swift and intense. 'Nominating Pedro Pascal for his 5 total minutes of screen time in The Last of Us season 2 but snubbing Diego Luna in Andor is insane,' one fan wrote on X (formerly Twitter). Another added: 'Diego getting snubbed is now my villain origin story.'

The omission is particularly striking, given Andor's rich narrative, which tackles authoritarianism, surveillance, and resistance, which are resonating themes in today's political climate. Yet, its powerful human performances failed to move Emmy voters this year.

Squid Game: From Making History to Zero Noms

Back in 2022, Squid Game made history with six Emmy wins, including Best Actor for Lee Jung-jae. The show, in fact, became the darling of the Academy as the community and the members both showered their love and admiration for the Korean show.

Fast forward to 2025, and its much-anticipated second season didn't secure a single nomination. Admirers and fans of Squid Game are obviously not happy and have taken to social media to express their frustration. A fan wrote, 'Squid Game S2 not even getting an Emmy nomination for production design despite winning the category in 2022 is insane.'

Netflix Chief Content Officer, Bela Bajaria, while speaking to Variety, said, 'Squid Game' had an incredible cultural impact... I'm disappointed when it doesn't get recognised in the way that it should have.'

Interview With the Vampire: All Bite, No Reward

AMC's gothic hit Interview With the Vampire was widely expected to break through this year following its critically acclaimed second season, which boasts a 98% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Yet aside from a pair of technical or craft nominations in hairstyling and makeup, it failed to make a place in the major categories.

Fans, along with some critics, were especially shocked that none of the cast received acting nods. 'Interview With the Vampire is the best show on television right now, so it not even getting a nomination makes the whole awards show feel pointless,' a fan wrote on social media.

During the Critics' Conversation, The Hollywood Reporter's Angie Han said, 'The Emmys have never been known for particularly edgy taste, so while I might wish The Rehearsal, Fantasmas and Interview with the Vampire would get more appreciation, I can't say I'm particularly shocked they didn't.'

Other Notable Snubs

The snubs didn't end there. Prime Video's recently cancelled The Wheel of Time was once again shut out, despite having a passionate fan base and an ambitious third season. AMC's Dark Winds, which earned a perfect Rotten Tomatoes score for its third season, also received zero nominations.

Meanwhile, former favourites like The Handmaid's Tale, Yellowjackets, and Only Murders in the Building were also left in the cold. Elisabeth Moss, Selena Gomez, and Jon Hamm were all ignored, despite strong performances and previous Emmy love.