Quinta Brunson, creator, showrunner and star of ABC's "Abbott Elementary," has spoken about the strong fan reaction to the breakup of her character Janine and Gregory, played by Tyler James Williams, in the show's fifth season. She said the storyline played out largely as she intended, but that the intensity of viewers' anger, particularly directed at Gregory, caught her off guard, given that she felt the writers had presented a balanced account of the split.

The interview coincides with the sitcom's continued awards success: since its 2021 debut, "Abbott Elementary" has received 37 Emmy nominations in total, including seven for its latest season, covering best comedy series and best directing for a comedy series. Brunson also picked up her fifth consecutive lead actress nomination, making her the second most-nominated Black woman in that category's history, behind only Isabel Sanford of "The Jeffersons." She also discussed filming the ambitious "Ballgame" episode at a live baseball stadium and how working on the series has shaped her development as a writer.