FX's 'Pose' Snubbed In NAACP Image Award Nominations

(image via Instagram/PoseOnFX)

The NAACP announced the nominees for this year's Image Awards this week, and noticeable among those not recognized was the ground-breaking series, Pose, from super-producer Ryan Murphy.

Although the show was nominated for 2 Golden Globe Awards, 2 Critics Choice Awards, a GLAAD Media Award and a Gotham Independent Film Award, the nominating committee for the NAACP Image Awards chose to leave the FX series out in the cold.

Note: the show wasn't nominated for this year's Emmy Awards due to missing the cutoff date for eligibility.

Many felt principal actors Billy Porter, MJ Rodriguez and Indya Moore would have been included in the nominations thanks to fairly universal acclaim for their performances, as well as a nod for Outstanding Drama Series.

The Image Awards recognize not only performances and creative achievement of people of color, but also projects that promote diversity and inclusivity.

You would think a show like Pose, which chronicles the lives of trans women of color in the 1980s ballroom culture, would be a perfect fit. Five main characters are trans women of color, plus there's the added diversity of other queer characters.

But, no.

Out received this statement from Robin Harrison, acting director of the NAACP Hollywood Bureau, after this year's nominations were announced:

“The NAACP Image Awards works with networks, studios, and other industry professionals to make sure we receive nominations that promote the outstanding achievements and performances of people of color in the arts, as well as those who promote social justice, diversity and inclusion through their creative work.

“Each year, our vast field of eligible submissions are voted on by a general committee of NAACP and industry representatives. As an organization, the NAACP is proud of shows like Pose that are breaking new ground and bringing issues that impact the LGBTQ community to the forefront of public consciousness.”

That said, there were several nominations acknowledging the achievements by queer artists of color.

• ABC's How To Get Away With Murder and Netflix'a Orange in the New Black, which feature LGBTQ characters and storylines, received nominations

• RuPaul for Outstanding Reality Program and Outstanding Host

• Tituss Burgess for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

• Amandla Stenberg for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture for The Hate U Give

• Out writer Lena Waithe picked up two nods for Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series for episodes of The Chi

• Justin Simien for Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series for Dear White People

• Janelle Monae’s Dirty Computer was recognized in both the Outstanding Album category as well as snagging a nom for Outstanding Female Artist

The 50th NAACP Image Awards will be broadcast on March 30 from the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles on TV One.

Click here for a full list of nominees.