The multiple nominee wore a black KN95 mask as he sat at a table close to the stage with his Barry co-stars, including Henry Winkler.

Hader was up for multiple awards during the ceremony including outstanding lead actor and outstanding director in a comedy series for Barry. The show was nominated for a further 12 awards, but did not win anything on the night.

Despite going home empty handed, Hader at least won the praise of fans watching at home who respected his decision to wear a face mask to protect himself and others from COVID-19.

“Bill Hader (seated next to 76-year-old Henry Winkler) is virtually the only person in the Emmys crowd wearing a mask. Respect to Bill Hader for unabashed mask wearing at a high-profile event,” wrote one fan on Twitter.

Another said: “Bill Hader is the only celebrity wearing a mask in a room full of high powered peer pressure. Let this example help you next time you feel like the weirdo. Weird is good.”

Hader, who suffers from an autoimmune condition, also got multiple shoutouts from people in the disabled community who felt represented at such a high-profile event.

“Bill Hader was the ONLY one wearing a f*ing mask. Believe me, my multiply disabled, high risk a noticed,” said one fan.

@hereisviolet wrote: “Someone at the Emmys please thank Bill Hader on behalf of the entire disabled community for wearing a mask at the Emmys.”

Despite COVID-19 restrictions easing around the country, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ending the need to quarantine for people exposed to COVID-19, many disabled people still live in fear of the virus.

Access to essential services, family, friends and employment remains reduced for people with disabilities, according to research from the Administration for Community Living.

While most people with disabilities are not more likely to catch COVID-19 or become very sick from it, some might be more likely to get infected or have severe illness, according to the CDC.

The reasons for this could be underlying medical conditions, congregated living settings, or systemic health and social inequities.

“All people with serious underlying chronic medical conditions like chronic lung disease, a serious heart condition, or a weakened immune system seem to be more likely to get severely ill from COVID-19,” the CDC wrote on its website.

Hader opened up about how COVID-19 impacted him as a result of his autoimmune condition for which he takes immune-suppressing medication.

The Saturday Night Live alum hardly left his house from March 2020 until he was fully immunized in spring 2021.

He instituted very strict protocols around filming the latest season of Barry.

“I thought, ‘If I get COVID, it’s going to cost a s*** ton of money,’” he told Hollywood Reporter earlier this year.

“And so I was very, very strict. I put myself under a lot of pressure. I just don’t like that that’s taking up space in my brain when I have all this other s**t I’m trying to do.”