3 weeks ago
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Buffy The Vampire Slayer star Sarah Michelle Gellar hit back at photographers on the Emmys red carpet for asking her to plant a kiss on her co-star David Boreanaz.
The onscreen couple thrilled fans when they reunited at the 2026 Emmys in Los Angeles on Sunday night to mark the vampire-filled show's upcoming 30th anniversary.
Gellar, 49, wowed in a fuchsia satin gown as she held hands and cosied up to her former co-star Boreanaz, 57.
However, their reunion was overshadowed by awkwardness after a photographer asked the former colleagues to kiss on the red carpet.
'I don't think his wife would be too happy about that!' Gellar remarked in response.
Gellar is married to fellow actor Freddie Prinze Jr while Boreanaz is happily married to actress and model Jaime Bergman.
Fans praised Gellar for shutting down the photographer with a perfect response as they shared their reaction on Reddit following the 'cringe' moment.
Buffy The Vampire Slayer star Sarah Michelle Gellar hit back at photographers on the Emmys red carpet for asking her to plant a kiss on her co-star David Boreanaz
Gellar played the titular role of Buffy Summers during the show's 144-episode run from 1997–2003, while Boreanaz portrayed her love interest Angel on 58 episodes of the series
'V cute but I cringed when one of the photographers taking their pictures asked them to kiss for the cameras. SIRR?' one wrote.
Others added: 'As inappropriate as that photographer was, asking Sarah and David to kiss, the fact that they still come off as an actual couple, after all these years! Also, kudos to Sarah for bringing up David's wife...',
'I hope he meant ON THE CHEEK?? That’s so awkward.'
Meanwhile, another viewer gave the photographer the benefit of doubt: 'I think the photographer may have assumed they were a couple.
'Thankfully Sarah politely intervened and said something along the lines of, "his wife wouldn't appreciate that."'
Gellar played the titular role of Buffy Summers during the show's 144-episode run from 1997-2003, while Boreanaz portrayed her love interest Angel on 58 episodes of the series.
The actor, who plays Jim Rockford on the upcoming NBC series The Rockford Files, played Angel on 110 episodes of the spinoff Angel from 1999-2004.
Fans were thrilled by the pair's off-screen reunion, with one writing on X: 'This is one of the most iconic couples that I’ve adored since childhood. I’d love to see this duo together more often.'
Body language expert Judi James spoke with the Daily Mail about Monday's interactions between Gellar and Boreanaz.
James said that the former co-stars managed 'to balance their body language signals together in a way that made all their fans happy but without disrespecting their real-life partners'.
Fans praised Gellar for shutting down the photographer with a perfect response as they shared their reaction on Reddit after the 'cringe' moment
Gellar has been happily married to fellow actor Freddie Prinze Jr since 2002
Meanwhile Boreanaz is married to actress and model Jaime Bergman (pictured together in 2019)
James added, 'The key "tell" to their genuine friendship came as they moved from spot to spot to pose and their hands quickly and easily fell into a clasp with the fingers meshed to show synchronized, relaxed and very mutual closeness.'
Boreanaz's poses were described as 'elegant and slightly performative', while the manner in which Gellar 'beamed up at him and placed one hand on his chest showed she was delighted to be "working" with him again'.
James noted that 'when the photographers yelled for a kiss Sarah was quick to point out David's wife might have something to say if they did but they still exchanged some very warm eye contact to give the cameras the kind of reunion "moment" they clearly knew the fans would want'.
The reunion comes after the show's cast has suffered sad losses in recent years, including Michelle Trachtenberg in February of 2025, Nicholas Brendon in March of 2026 and Anthony Head in June 2026.
Gellar previously spoke about the show on her Instagram in March of 2022 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the series hitting the air.
She said: '25 years ago today I had the honor to introduce the world to my version of Buffy Anne Summers. It was an uphill battle.
'A mid season replacement, on a new network based on a movie, that was by no means a giant success.'
Gellar said that 'the fans' had 'believed in' the show and made its success happen.
'You made this happen,' she said. 'You are the reason 25 years later we are still celebrating. So today we celebrate you as well.'
Emmy Awards 2026 winners: AT A GLANCE
Outstanding Comedy Series: Widow's Bay
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: Matthew Rhys - Widow's Bay
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie: Matthew Rhys - The Beast in Me
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series: Kate O’Flynn, Widow’s Bay
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series: Stephen Root, Widow’s Bay
Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series: Widow’s Bay (Katie Dippold for 'Welcome to Widow’s Bay')
Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series: Widow’s Bay (Hiro Murai for “Welcome to Widow’s Bay”)
Matthew Rhys made history as he became the first actor to win two leading actor awards in one night
Outstanding Drama Series: The Pitt
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series: Noah Wyle - The Pitt
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series: Rhea Seehorn - Pluribus
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series: Jean Smart - Hacks
Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series: DTF St. Louis
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: Allison Janney - The Diplomat
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: Tom Pelphrey - Task
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie: Sally Field - Remarkably Bright Creatures
Outstanding Reality Competition Program: The Traitors
Outstanding Variety Series: The Late Show With Stephen Colbert
Body language expert Judi James said that the former co-stars managed 'to balance their body language signals together in a way that made all their fans happy but without disrespecting their real-life partners'
Gellar donned a sleeveless pink gown with her blonde locks neatly styled to the side during entrances at the award show
On Monday night, Gellar and Boreanaz presented the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie, taking to the stage together after their red carpet appearance.
Buffy The Vampire Slayer premiered in March 1997, with the pair acknowledging the 30-year anniversary is just around the corner.
Gellar and Boreanaz were slated to appear in a reboot of the show titled Buffy: New Sunnydale on Hulu before the project was shelved earlier this year.
The duo took a swipe at the reboot's cancellation while on stage, with Boreanaz referring to the romantic entanglement of their characters in the original.
'You know, Sarah, I always thought that Buffy and Angel would end up together,' he stated.
Emmy Awards 2026 winners
Outstanding Drama Series
The Diplomat
The Gilded Age
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
Paradise
The Pitt - WINNER
Pluribus
Slow Horses
Your Friends and Neighbors
Noah Wyle led The Pitt to an Outstanding Drama Series honor
Outstanding Comedy Series
Abbott Elementary
The Bear
Hacks
Margo’s Got Money Troubles
Nobody Wants This
Only Murders in the Building
Shrinking
Widow’s Bay - WINNER
Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series
All Her Fault
The Beast in Me
Beef
DTF St. Louis - WINNER
Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
Carrie Coon, The Gilded Age
Chase Infiniti, The Testaments
Keri Russell, The Diplomat
Rhea Seehorn, Pluribus - WINNER
Zendaya, Euphoria
Rhea Seehorrn was recognized for her work in Pluribus
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
Sterling K. Brown, Paradise
Gary Oldman, Slow Horses
Mark Ruffalo, Task
Rufus Sewell, The Diplomat
Noah Wyle, The Pitt - WINNER
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Taylor Dearden, The Pitt
Fiona Dourif, The Pitt
Allison Janney, The Diplomat - WINNER
Katherine LaNasa, The Pitt
Sepideh Moafi, The Pitt
Julianne Nicholson, Paradise
Karolina Wydra, Pluribus
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Patrick Ball, The Pitt
Billy Crudup, The Morning Show
Shawn Hatosy, The Pitt
Gerran Howell, The Pitt
Jack Lowden, Slow Horses
Tom Pelphrey, Task - WINNER
Carlos-Manuel Vesga, Pluribus
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
Quinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary
Ayo Edebiri, The Bear
Elle Fanning, Margo’s Got Money Troubles
Lisa Kudrow, The Comeback
Jean Smart, Hacks - WINNER
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Wonder Man
Steve Carell, Rooster
Matthew Rhys, Widow’s Bay - WINNER
Jason Segel, Shrinking
Martin Short, Only Murders in the Building
Dale Dickey, Widow’s Bay
Matthew Rhys became the first actor to win two leading actor awards in one night
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Hannah Einbinder, Hacks
Janelle James, Abbott Elementary
Kate O’Flynn, Widow’s Bay - WINNER
Michelle Pfeiffer, Margo’s Got Money Troubles
Megan Stalter, Hacks
Jessica Williams, Shrinking
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Colman Domingo, The Four Seasons
Paul W. Downs, Hacks
Harrison Ford, Shrinking
Nick Offerman, Margo’s Got Money Troubles
Stephen Root, Widow’s Bay - WINNER
Michael Urie, Shrinking
Tyler James Williams, Abbott Elementary
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
Claire Danes, The Beast in Me
Sally Field, Remarkably Bright Creatures - WINNER
Carey Mulligan, Beef
Sarah Pidgeon, Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette
Sarah Snook, All Her Fault
Sally Field was a surprise winner for Remarkably Bright Creatures
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
Riz Ahmed, Bait
Jason Bateman, Black Rabbit
Charlie Hunnam, Monster: The Ed Gein Story
Oscar Isaac, Beef
Matthew Rhys, The Beast in Me - WINNER
Outstanding Reality Competition Program
Dancing With the Stars
RuPaul’s Drag Race
Survivor
Top Chef
The Traitors - WINNER
Outstanding Variety Series
The Daily Show
Jimmy Kimmel Live
Last Week Tonight With John Oliver
The Late Show With Stephen Colbert - WINNER
Saturday Night Live
Stephen Colbert earned an Emmy for his now cancelled talk show
Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series
The Diplomat (Peter Akerman and Debora Cahn for “Amagansett”)
The Pitt (Kirsten Pierre-Geyfman & R. Scott Gemmill for “1:00 PM”)
The Pitt (Valerie Chu for “12:00 PM”)
Mickey Down and Konrad Kay for “Dear Henry,” Industry
Pluribus (Vince Gilligan for “We Is Us”) - WINNER
Slow Horses (Will Smith for “Scars”)
Task (Brad Ingelsby for “A Still Small Voice”)
Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series
Abbott Elementary (Quinta Brunson for “Team Building”)
The Chair Company (Tim Robinson and Zach Kanin for “Life goes by too f**king fast, it really does”)
The Comeback (Michael Patrick King and Lisa Kudrow for “Valerie Does It All”)
Hacks (Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs, and Jen Statsky for “Hacks”)
Jury Duty Presents: Company Retreat (Anthony King for “Mergers and Acquisitions”)
Widow’s Bay (Katie Dippold for “Welcome to Widow’s Bay”) - WINNER
Katie Dippold had a massive night as she also earned an outstanding writing win
Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series
The Gilded Age (Salli Richardson-Whitfield for “My Mind Is Made Up”)
Paradise (Hanelle M. Culpepper for “Exodus”)
The Pitt (Noah Wyle for “12:00 PM”)
Pluribus (Vince Gilligan for “We Is Us”)
Slow Horses (Saul Metzstein for “Scars”) - WINNER
Task (Salli Richardson-Whitfield for “Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a river”)
Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series
Abbott Elementary (Randall Einhorn for “Ballgame”)
The Bear (Christopher Storer for “Bears”)
The Chair Company (Andrew DeYoung for “Life goes by too f**king fast, it really does”)
Hacks (Lucia Aniello for “Hacks”)
The Ms. Pat Show (Mary Lou Belli for “Give It Arrest”)
Widow’s Bay (Hiro Murai for “Welcome to Widow’s Bay”) - WINNER
Widow's Bay's Hiro Murai earned Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series
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