2026 Emmy Nominee Reactions

Hanelle M. Culpepper, Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series

“I’m deeply grateful for this nomination. As a director, I’m always chasing stories that reach people on both an emotional and visceral level, and John Hoberg and Seena Haddad gave me exactly that with Exodus. It was an ambitious episode and that challenged me in all the best ways — one that asked every department for trust, invention, precision, and heart. It means so much to have that work recognized by my peers. I’m thankful to the Television Academy, and will be forever grateful to Dan Fogelman and Sterling K. Brown for including me in the Paradise family.”