How Quinta Brunson Started as a BuzzFeed Content Creator and Is Now a Three-Time Emmy Nominee

When Emmy nominations were announced on Tuesday, July 12, writer and actress Quinta Brunson made history as the first Black woman to be nominated for three Emmys in the comedy categories for her series Abbott Elementary. Still, many fans recognize her from her days on BuzzFeed. 

Growing up and watching Quinta Brunson go from Buzzfeed to Abbott Elementary is something I’m grateful to have experienced

— dylan (@dylwimberly) July 14, 2022

Born and raised in Philadelphia, Brunson’s interest in comedy started in high school when she took an improv class. She continued taking comedy classes throughout college then eventually dropped out to pursue comedy full-time. The 32-year-old actress gained prominence in the entertainment industry by posting comedy videos on her Instagram in 2014. Although deleted from her Instagram account now, you can still find some of her comedy videos on her YouTube channel. Her The Girl Who Has Never Been on a Nice Date series grew her digital fan base in particular. 

In October 2014, Brunson was hired by BuzzFeed Video as a producer. Many of her popular videos include “Here are 7 Signs That Make You Petty,” “Conversations You Have With Your Cat”, and “Things Siblings Do To Annoy Each Other.” She frequently collaborated with Justin Tan, often playing her ex. 

Brunson developed and starred in two comedy series with BuzzFeed Motion Pictures in 2016: Broke for YouTube Red and Up for Adoption for Verizon’s g90 platform. In 2017, her stellar performance in Broke earned her a nomination for Best Acting in a Comedy at the Streamy Awards. 

Selling Broke to YouTube Red “was a really cool turning point for me mentally, as someone who wanted to make sitcoms,” Brunson shares in a confessional that was posted by BuzzFeed Video in June 2021.

Brunson’s last post on BuzzFeed was in May 2017, which was titled “If Moms Did the NBA Halftime Report.” It was reported she officially left the company in 2018.

“It was time for me to leave when my ambitions kind of became different than just working a nine-to-five,” explains the creator in her video, “Why I Left Buzzfeed: Quinta Brunson.” She continued, “For me, it felt like college and you have to graduate from college. And I think it was really just time for me to graduate.”

After leaving BuzzFeed, Brunson worked on other series such as Quinta vs Everything from 2017 to 2018 and iZombie in 2019. In August 2019, Brunson was a cast member for one season in HBO’s A Black Lady Sketch Show, an American sketch comedy TV series that highlights Black women comedians.

In May 2021, ABC picked up Brunson’s Abbott Elementary, which follows a group of elementary school teachers based in Philadelphia that works in one of the worst public schools in the country. Since the release of the series in December 2021, it has received great praise from fans. It has been nominated for many awards from the Hollywood Critics Association and the Primetime Emmy Awards. The series was also picked up for a second season, which will be released on September 21. 

abbott elementary is SO GOOD

— marta🧣 (@melifvme) July 14, 2022

abbott elementary getting the recognition it deserves is the highlight of my day!!

— سال (@notsalama) July 13, 2022

Out of the six Primetime Emmy nominations, Brunson takes credit for Lead Actress in a Comedy and Writing for a Comedy Series (“Pilot”). Abbott Elementary was also nominated for Outstanding Comedy Series. Winners for the Emmy awards will be announced on Monday, September 12, 2022. 

Ever since I saw Quinta Brunson on Buzzfeed videos, I knew she was gonna be a star someday. She was just so damn entertaining even during interviews. Nothing about her humor felt forced – she is just really funny. So happy for her Emmy nom.

— NXD13 💗🌷🌸👨‍❤️‍👨🏳️‍🌈👬🏹 (@NXD131) July 14, 2022

Here at Glitter, we loved watching Quinta Brunson grow into the successful actress and comedian she is today. While waiting for the Primetime Emmy Awards and Season 2 of Abbott Elementary, fans can watch Quinta Brunson and her cast shine on Abbott Elementary on ABC or on Hulu. The trailer for Season 1 of the series can be found below.