John Leguizamo defends DEI at Emmys through a speech.

At the Emmys on Sunday, actor John Leguizamo publicly declared his support for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) and stated that he is proud to be part of Hollywood's DEI workforce.

"Leguizamo stated that DEI stands for diligence, excellence, and imagination. Everyone in this room has committed to these values, making them DEI hires."

In his speech, Leguizamo mentioned an advertisement he placed in the New York Times requesting Emmy voters to acknowledge candidates of color.

The actor expressed satisfaction that Hollywood is gradually becoming more accepting of Latin actors, despite the fact that it has not undergone a complete transformation.

"Tonight," he stated, "the Emmys have a record-breaking diverse list of nominees. I see many of my talented Latinx siblings represented, including Selena Gomez for 'Only Murders in the Building,' who has been carrying Steve Martin and Martin Short for three seasons. Sofia Vergara is also nominated for 'Griselda.'"

As a child, Leguizamo observed renowned actors such as Marlon Brando and Al Pacino portray characters that did not align with his cultural background.

"I saw a lot of brownface," he said. "In 'Viva Zapata!', Marlon Brando played a Mexican, Al Pacino played a Cuban gangster, and Natalie Wood played a Puerto Rican beauty named Maria. Everybody played us."

The advertisement in the New York Times, as stated by Leguizamo, influenced the portrayal of representation in the entertainment industry.

"Cris Abrego, the first ever Latino chair of the academy, was elected after the ad was removed from the New York Times," he said. "Mero mero, Hollywood. You’re welcome."

He stated that our industry is making progress, as evidenced by tonight's show, but we require more stories from underrepresented groups, including Black, Asian, Jewish, Arab, LGBTQ+, and disabled individuals.

Planet Chronicle' Tracy Wright contributed to this report.