Meg Stalter turned heads at the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards on Monday night by doing something no one else has ever done on that red carpet. The Hacks star arrived painted head-to-toe in gold, wearing giant angel wings and holding a golden sphere above her head, transforming herself into a walking, talking, life-sized version of the Emmy statuette itself. The look was an instant conversation starter and quickly became one of the most talked-about moments of the night.
The actress, 35, is nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her role as Kayla Schaeffer in Hacks. This marks her first individual Emmy nomination. She walked the carpet with Paul W. Downs, her co-star and the co-creator of Hacks, who kept things simple in a classic tuxedo while Stalter quite literally became the award they were both there to celebrate.
What Exactly Did Meg Stalter Wear To The Emmys
Meg Stalter wore a gold bra and matching high-waisted shorts, paired with gold jewellery and open-toed gold heels. Her hair, face, arms, and upper body were all covered in shimmering gold paint, making her virtually unrecognisable to anyone not paying close attention.
The standout accessories were massive golden wings attached behind her shoulders and a large golden sphere that she carried above her head. Both elements are direct references to the actual Emmy statuette, which shows a winged woman holding an atom.
The Emmy trophy itself was designed in 1948 by television engineer Louis McManus, who modelled it after his wife. The wings represent the muse of art, while the atom represents the electron of science.
During the NBC preshow, Stalter was asked if she was wearing Versace and who designed her outfit. She did not share any designer details. Instead, she responded with a joke: “This is a remake because, well, let’s say I’m not a size three.”
The History Behind Stalter’s Bold Red Carpet Choices
Stalter is not new to making unusual fashion decisions at major events. At the 2025 Emmys, she skipped the formal dress code entirely and showed up in straight-leg blue jeans, a white Hanes T-shirt, black flats, and sunglasses. She carried a black handbag with the words “cease fire!” written on it.
Speaking to Variety on that red carpet, she said: “I think people need to bring back jeans on the red carpet. They were in the ’90s… there’s no rules. You’re allowed to do what you want.”
Earlier in 2026, Stalter and Paul W. Downs attended the Critics Choice Awards in matching bright orange outfits. The looks were a playful reference to the coordinating orange outfits that Timothée Chalamet and Kylie Jenner wore to the Marty Supreme premiere. The idea came from Hacks producer Genevieve Aniello.
In 2022, Stalter attended her first Emmys in a sheer red lace slip dress from Norma Kamali, which went viral at the time. She has also dressed as a Diet Coke can at the Las Culturistas Culture Awards and as a coffee cup at the MTV Video Music Awards.
In an interview with Marie Claire in April, Stalter explained her approach to red carpet events: “Every red carpet appearance or anything that I get to do in front of people, I want to have fun and make the most of it because it’s my dream. We worked really hard to get here, and now I want to enjoy it.”
Fans And Critics React To The Golden Look
Social media reactions to Stalter’s Emmy outfit were sharply divided. Some users praised her creativity and commitment to the bit, while others were less impressed.
“omg Meg Stalter just showed up on the Emmys red carpet……. dressed up like a giant Emmy lol,” one X user wrote alongside a video of Stalter posing.
Another user posted: “MEG STALTER DRESSED AS AN EMMY NO ONE IS DOING IT LIKE HER.”
One fan joked that she looked like a Ferrero Rocher chocolate. Another wrote, “Look-a-likes? Or did she just eat so many of them she became one?” A third user simply called her “Emmy.”
Not everyone was amused. “If this isn’t a cry for attention, then I dunno what is. #Sad #PlayedOut #Forgettable,” one user commented under a clip of Stalter posing.
“She tries too hard, she looks so ridiculous, and that comes from someone who loves her and Kayla in Hacks,” another fan noted.
Another comment read: “she came down with a sickening case of drag delusion.”
The Television Academy itself shared Stalter’s look on social media, posting a photo of her alongside Paul W. Downs with the caption: “Megan Stalter is literally an #Emmy tonight with Paul W. Downs.”
How Paul W. Downs Found Out About Stalter’s Nomination
The story of how Stalter learned about her first Emmy nomination has become a fan favourite. Paul W. Downs was the one who called to tell her the news, but she did not believe him at first.
During a CNN interview, Downs recalled: “I called her. She didn’t pick up. I texted her. I was like, ‘Meg, call me.’ And she was like, ‘What?’ And I was like, ‘The Emmys.’ She didn’t even know the announcement was happening that day.”
Downs added: “That’s very on brand, though. It was so Jimmy Kayla, but it was so – I’m so happy that she was recognized, because she is so special and so funny.”
In a separate interview with The Wrap, Downs shared more details: “Once I convinced her that I wasn’t pranking her, she was shaking. She couldn’t believe it.”
Where And How To Watch The 2026 Emmys
The 78th Primetime Emmy Awards took place on Monday, September 14, 2026, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. The ceremony was hosted by Mariska Hargitay.
For viewers in the United States, the ceremony aired live on NBC and streamed on Peacock starting at 8 pm ET / 5 pm PT.
For audiences in the UK, live coverage was available on LG Smart TVs through LG 1 starting from 11:55 pm BST on Monday, with the main ceremony beginning at 1 am BST on Tuesday, September 15. The red carpet pre-show started around midnight BST.
For viewers in India, the ceremony aired on Tuesday, September 15, with red carpet coverage beginning at 4:30 am IST and the main ceremony at 5:30 am IST. The event streamed on JioHotstar.
For audiences in Canada and Australia, the Emmys were available through the same NBC and Peacock platforms, with local streaming options depending on the region’s broadcast partners.
Related:
How Hacks Performed At The 2026 Emmys
Hacks entered the night with a record-breaking 24 Emmy nominations for its fifth and final season, setting a new mark for the most nominations by a comedy series in a single year. The previous record was held by The Bear with 23 nominations in 2024.
Jean Smart made history with her fifth consecutive win for her role in Hacks, cementing her place as one of television’s most celebrated actors. The comedy series category, however, went to Apple TV+’s Widow’s Bay, which was the biggest winner of the night with six awards during the main ceremony and 14 across the full Emmy cycle.
Stalter did not win in her category, but her red carpet moment ensured that her first Emmy nomination will be remembered for reasons far beyond the trophy itself.
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