Why Was Jeremy Allen White Bleeped on the Emmys 2024? Producers Blame an Overzealous Network Censor

Producers of the 2024 Emmy Awards are addressing the head-scratching censored moment during Jeremy Allen White's speech.

While accepting his award for outstanding actor in a comedy series for The Bear, the actor, 33, was censored for seemingly using an expletive on stage. Now, the production company behind television's biggest night, Jesse Collins Entertainment, reveals that the word in question was "Jesus Christ" and told Variety why the decision to scrub it was out of their control.

“We don’t control the button, and we don’t hear it,” Jesse Collins Entertainment president Dionne Harmon explained to the outlet. “We’re on a delay so we see what happens."

"We don’t have a feed to the real show. We don’t have the button," she added.

On Sunday, Sept. 15, White was named outstanding actor in a comedy series for his portrayal of Carmen "Carmy" Berzatto on The Bear for the second year in a row.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you, so much," he said when taking the stage. "My heart is just beating outside of its chest."

He went on to thank his costars, telling them, "I want us to be in each other's lives forever."

"This show has changed my life," said White. "It has installed a faith that change is possible, that change is possible if you're able to reach out, you're really truly never alone. I thank this show."

Elsewhere in his speech on Sunday, White thanked his fellow nominees, which included Only Murders in the Building costars Martin Short and Steve Martin as well as D’Pharaoh Woon-a-Tai from Reservation Dogs, Larry David from Curb Your Enthusiasm and Matt Berry from What We Do in the Shadows.

"I'm so honored to be in your company," he said.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Part of The Bear's ongoing success has been credited to the cast's chemistry. White discussed the bond he has built with his costar, Ayo Edebiri, in a June 2024 interview with Vanity Fair.

“We really enjoy each other in life, on camera and off camera,” White said of the actress. “I hope that sort of that kind of thing shines through on camera between Carm and Syd.”

White added, “Syd is always able to...I don’t know, to deliver something different to Carmy, and she’s usually right. And I guess I think Ayo is also usually right."