"I May Destroy You" Deserved a Golden Globe Nomination: Here's Why

Trigger Warning: This article discusses sexual assault.

Every year when the Golden Globe nominees are announced, it's expected that there will be a few staggering snubs (remember when Little Women director Greta Gerwig wasn't nominated for Best Director back in 2019?).

Personally, I still haven't recovered. 

The Golden Globe snub of Little Women is maybe the most offensive and deeply disappointing oversight in recent history. It is a perfect film. The best cast of March sisters I've ever seen. And wow- what writing and direction. #GretaGerwig hit this one out of the park.

— carly kimmel (@carlykimmel) December 31, 2019

This time around, the show snubbed the most by the 2021 Golden Globes was undoubtedly Michaela Coel's I May Destroy You, which was deemed one of the best series to bless our screens in 2020. In fact, the miniseries has a score of 98 per cent on the Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer. 

If you haven't seen it, the show is a fictionalised account of Coel's own survivor story, and centres on Arabella Essiuedu (Coel), a successful author who is feted as the 'voice of her generation' after publishing her debut book titled Chronicles of a Fed-Up Millennial. Except, she is struggling to write her second novel. When she runs out of inspiration, she takes a break from work and meets up with friends for a night out in London. However, when Arabella wakes up the next morning, she cannot quite recall the events of the evening.

After experiencing harrowing flashbacks, Arabella puts the pieces together with the help of her friends Terry (Weruche Opia) and Kwame (Paapa Essiedu) and comes to the frightening realisation that her drink was spiked, and she was raped in a bathroom stall.

From there, the series dives deep into how Arabella processes the traumatic incident, and the inconceivable impact it has on her life.

Despite I May Destroy You highlighting deeply unsettling realities about consent, sexual assault and trauma, The Hollywood Foreign Press Association has shut out Coel's acclaimed drama from this year's Golden Globe nominations.

It's safe to say viewers were outraged. 

no nods for I MAY DESTROY YOU? well i may destroy the hollywood foreign press association how bout that

— muna (@Muna_Mire) February 3, 2021

I May Destroy You was definitely snubbed. There is absolutely nothing like it to ever exist and I know many other productions will draw inspiration from Michaela Coel. She deserves her flowers

— OLONI BABY (@Oloni) February 3, 2021

No it’s actually CRIMINAL to not recognize Michaela Coel for what she did, not just w trauma or sexual assault or consent, but w friendship and art and power and healing! I May Destroy You was an artist executing a singular vision, pure and focused #GoldenGlobes

— amil (@amil) February 3, 2021

People have also questioned why Netflix's Emily in Paris—which was slammed by critics for its offensive portrayal of Parisians—was nominated, while I May Destroy You receied zero recognition.

Even Deborah Copaken, a writer on Emily in Paris, published a piece in The Guardian claiming that Coel's show deserved to be nominated.

emily in paris nominated but i may destroy you isn’t....this is just so..? pic.twitter.com/e3942jdpLH

— ambar (@battinsuns) February 3, 2021

“I May Destroy You” is one of the most creative, devastating, forward-thinking seasons of TV I’ve ever seen and the fact that it got no Golden Globes nominations while Emily In Paris got a bunch is pretty gross

— Erin accountability, then unity Ryan (@morninggloria) February 3, 2021

So, why did it deserve to be nominated? 

If you've already seen I May Destroy You, you would know that consent remains a running theme throughout the series. Arabella's rape isn't the only example of sexual assault we see in the show. Instead, it examines other instances of sexual assault where consent can be more subtly undermined.

Through Coel's highly sensitive and thought-provoking writing, the series helps viewers gain a more thorough understanding of what constitutes sexual assault, and the complexities surrounding consent. Not only does it present a refreshingly empowering view of sexual assault survivors, but it also serves as a poignant reminder that when it comes to consent, there should be no 'grey areas'. 

The series tackles issues including mental health, identity and dealing with trauma, while also exploring subjects like toxic masculinity, race and queer identity. While some shows would have struggled to pack in all of these themes, Coel approaches each of them with remarkable nuance. 

On top of that, Coel also managed to deliver an electric lead performance as Arabella. Over the course of the show's 12 episodes, we see her experience pretty much every emotion humanly possible with intense vulnerability.

Some people have pointed out how the nomination of Emerald Fennell's rape-revenge film Promising Young Woman is evidence of the systemic racism still affecting the Globes. The movie also deals with rape culture, but from the perspective of a white female.

Promising Young Woman is nominated for Best Picture Drama, while Fennell and Carey Mulligan received noms for Best Director Motion Picture and Best Actress Motion Picture - Drama respectively.

"It's a clear statement about which stories we are ready to hear and which ones we continue to ignore," Twitter user @realSarahPolley wrote.

Whether you loved Promising Young Woman or not, it is telling that it is sweeping awards season, while I May Destroy You has been completely ignored. It's a clear statement about which stories we are ready to hear and which ones we continue to ignore. #imaydestroyyou

— @realSarahPolley (@realsarahpolley) February 3, 2021

Well, at least Coel has now picked up a nominated for a Screen Actors Guild award for I May Destroy You. Finally, some recognition. 

You can stream I May Destroy You on BINGE. (Affiliate disclosure: Student Edge may earn a commission if you click that link and buy a product from our partner's page.)

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