'General Hospital' Nancy Lee Grahn Hates on Viola Davis' 2015 Emmy Speech, Then Apologizes

On Sunday (Sept. 20), actress Viola Davis won an Emmy for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series for her portrayal as Professor Annalise Keating on How to Get Away With Murder, making her the first African-American woman to do so in that category. After delivering her heartwarming and inspiring speech, Davis received a standing ovation from her fellow actors and praise from fans all over social media. Despite the positive feedback her speech generated from viewers, not everyone was pleased with the message she conveyed. General Hospital actress Nancy Lee Grahn posted on her Twitter account about why she didn't support Davis' speech, then publicly apologized after the backlash kicked in.

Davis gave a heartwarming speech during the 67th Primetime Emmy Awards where she touched on the presence of black women, or lack there of, in prominent Hollywood acting roles. She kicked off her address by quoting Civil Rights activist, Harriet Tubman, about social barriers. Davis concluded the speech by thanking the writers and many actresses of color who have redefined the way minority women are viewed on television and the big screen.

"'In my mind I see a line, and over that line, I see green fields and lovely flowers and beautiful white women with their arms stretched out to me over that line, but I can't seem to get there no how. I can't seem to get over that line.' That was Harriet Tubman in the 1800s," Davis said. "And let me tell you something, the only thing that separates women of color from anyone else is opportunity. You cannot win an Emmy for roles that are simply not there. So here's to all the writers, the awesome people-Ben Sherwood, Paul Lee, Peter Nowalk, Shonda Rhimes​-people who have redefined what it means to be beautiful, to be sexy, to be a leading women, to be black. And to the to the Taraji P. Hensons, the Kerry Washingtons, the Halle Berrys, the Nicole Beharies​, the Meagan Goods, to Gabrielle Union, thank you for taking us over that line."

Grahn, however, did not fully grasp the concept of her speech. The 57-year-old soap opera actress believed her speech only separated women more. In her angry tweets, which have since been deleted, Grahn stated all women don't receive the acknowledgement or props they deserve when it comes to award shows. She then managed to put her foot further in her mouth by accusing Davis of never experiencing discrimination.

"I wish I loved #ViolaDavis Speech," Grahn tweeted. "But I thought she should have let @shondarhimes write it." She went on to write. "Im a f--king actress for 40 yrs. None of us get respect or opportunity we deserve. Emmys not venue 4 racial opportunity. ALL women belittled."

Once fans caught word of her tweets, they went ballistic and enlightened her about the hardships minority women still face in 2015.

Overwhelmed by the backlash she was receiving, Grahn threw in her white towel and posted a public apology.

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