Antony Starr, who played Homelander in the Amazon Prime Video series The Boys, was not nominated for an Emmy Award for his performance in the show's final season. The omission has sparked widespread fan outrage, with many calling it one of the biggest snubs in television history.
Fan Reaction to the Snub
Following the announcement of the 2026 Emmy nominations, social media erupted with criticism over Starr's exclusion. A tweet highlighting that Starr had never been nominated for the role garnered over 3 million views, with replies describing Homelander as 'the greatest villain in TV history.' One user, Nicholas on X, called the snub 'actually egregious,' while Hunter wrote: 'Kinda one of the biggest robs of all time, because Antony Starr has played Homelander absolutely flawlessly in every aspect. One of the greatest villain performances I’ve ever seen, and he’s single-handedly kept The Boys captivating for years on YEARS. A crying shame.'
Starr's Performance and Legacy
Starr portrayed the deranged superhero Homelander across all five seasons of The Boys, which concluded in 2026. Despite critical acclaim for his performance, he never received an Emmy nomination. Some fans compared his situation to that of Andrew Lincoln, who also never received an Emmy nomination for his 11-season run on The Walking Dead. However, Deputy TV Editor Tom Percival of Metro expressed a differing view, stating: 'Do I really think Starr’s performance was particularly deserving of a nomination? Not really. The Boys was coasting since season three, and the fifth go-round, this particularly gory maypole was at best fine. Starr did give Homelander a certain unhinged je ne sais quoi, especially in earlier seasons, but season five didn’t really do anything new with the character.'
The Boys' Emmy Nominations
Despite Starr's snub, The Boys did receive Emmy nominations in behind-the-camera categories, including music supervision, stunt coordination, and fantasy/sci-fi costumes. The show's final season was recognized in these technical areas, aligning with the Emmys' tendency to reward long-running series in their final years.
The Boys is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.
