Emmys 2025: Sydney Sweeney & Jenna Ortega take front row, legends snubbed

The 2025 Emmy Awards just days away, excitement is building in Hollywood but a leaked seating chart has already stirred drama before the red carpet is even rolled out.

The chart, which surfaced online earlier this week, reveals where the biggest stars will be seated during Sunday night’s elegant ceremony and it’s causing a stir for who is up front and who is not.

Leading the conversation are rising stars Sydney Sweeney and Jenna Ortega, both of whom have reportedly secured front-row seats while both actresses have gained massive popularity in recent years, their placement ahead of long-established industry legends has raised eyebrows.

According to the leaked plan actors like Harrison Ford, Jude Law, Sarah Paulson and Sam Rockwell, all household names have been pushed further back in the theater.

Selena Gomez, despite not being individually nominated this year, also scored a prime front-row position. She’ll be seated ahead of her Only Murders in the Building co-stars, Martin Short and Steve Martin as well as Jake Gyllenhaal.

Meanwhile, Jon Hamm a presenter at the event, surprisingly won’t be seated in the front row, a decision that’s left many fans confused.

However, it is not just about who is sitting where the seating choices hint at a deeper shift in Hollywood’s current priorities.

Sources suggest that seat placement is heavily influenced by who’s likely to appear on camera, who’s trending online and which stars are set to present or have received major nominations. In short, buzz seems to be outweighing legacy.

Other big names in the front include Jennifer Coolidge, Quinta Brunson, Javier Bardem, Jason Segel and Catherine Zeta-Jones, all involved in buzzworthy projects or expected to appear on stage as he stars lucky enough to sit up front will also receive lavish gift bags filled with luxury items including wellness and skincare products and even a hair restoration package.

Some of the perks reportedly also include support donations related to recent Los Angeles wildfires.

While the full impact of the seating chart would not be seen until the big night, one thing is clear the Emmys are not just about awards they are about visibility, relevance and the power of being camera ready.

For the unversed, the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards will take place on Sunday, September 14, 2025 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, California.