Debbie Allen Surprised by Friend Jada Pinkett Smith While Accepting Governors Award at 2021 Emmys
Debbie Allen gave a moving speech on Sunday night as she graciously accepted the Governors Award at the 2021 Primetime Emmy AwardsFollowing a video introduction by Gayle King, who called Allen the «ultimately multihyphenate» and a «creative supernova,» the award itself was presented in appropriately dramatic fashion by Jada Pinkett Smith, Ava DuVernay, Ellen Pompeo and Michael Douglas. Upon walking onstage, Allen was met with a standing ovation from the room.«Thank you to my friends for being here, what a surprise! I was just skating at [Jada's] 50th birthday, she didn't say a thing!» Allen gushed.