A reality television personality identified as Joella was revealed to be the figure behind the oversized "Labubu" costume that surprised attendees on the red carpet at the 2025 Emmy Awards, organizers and witnesses said. The playful, plush look — which briefly obscured the celebrity’s identity — drew immediate attention from photographers and fellow nominees before Joella removed the mask.
The unmasking occurred shortly after the star’s arrival, prompting a mix of amusement and bafflement among reporters and stars waiting to enter the event. The appearance was one of several memorable moments on a night dominated by strong showings from period drama and anthology programming.
The Emmy nominations this year reflected a wide range of streaming and cable programming. The Penguin led with 24 total nominations, while The White Lotus followed closely with 23. Both series were prominent across acting, writing and directing categories. Drama series finalists included Andor, The Diplomat, The Last of Us, Paradise, The Pitt, Severance, Slow Horses and The White Lotus.
Several winners were confirmed in key categories during the ceremony. Britt Lower won Best Actress in a Drama Series for her work on Severance. Tramell Tillman took Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, also for Severance. Katherine LaNasa received the Emmy for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her role on The Pitt. Merritt Wever won Best Guest Actress in a Drama Series, and Shawn Hatosy was named Best Guest Actor in a Drama Series for his work on The Pitt.
In comedy, Jean Smart won Best Actress in a Comedy Series for Hacks, while Seth Rogen took Best Actor in a Comedy Series for his starring turn in The Studio. Julianne Nicholson was recognized as Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series, and Bryan Cranston won Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series.
Reality and competition categories also produced notable winners. Alan Cumming was named Host for a Reality or Reality Competition Program for The Traitors. Queer Eye won the Structured Reality Program award, and Love On The Spectrum took home the Unstructured Reality Program prize. In game-show hosting, Jimmy Kimmel earned the Emmy for Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.
The ceremony highlighted a number of industry firsts and unusual nominations. Filmmakers Ron Howard and Martin Scorsese received acting nominations for guest appearances on The Studio, and Harrison Ford earned his first Emmy nomination for his role in Shrinking. Kathy Bates, nominated for Matlock, was the oldest acting nominee at 77.
Television veterans and new faces shared the nominee lists across prestige drama and limited series fields. Best Limited or Anthology Series contenders included Adolescence, Black Mirror, Dying For Sex, Monsters: The Lyle And Erik Menendez Story, The Penguin and other high-profile projects. Colin Farrell, Cate Blanchett, Jake Gyllenhaal and Michelle Williams were among the performers up for honors in limited‑series acting categories.
The Labubu reveal served as a lighthearted counterpoint to an evening otherwise dominated by awards and industry recognition. Joella’s masked arrival and subsequent unmasking became one of the night’s viral moments, briefly shifting attention from the podiums and trophies to the playful spectacle on the red carpet.
Producers and nominees emphasized that the ceremony continued to celebrate a broad slate of television work, from big‑budget streaming dramas to intimate limited series and unscripted programs, with nominations and wins spread across a diverse set of platforms and creative teams.