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‘When They See Us’ Star Jharrel Jerome’s Emmys Acceptance Speech Brought The Entire Audience To Tears
‘When They See Us’ Star Jharrel Jerome’s Emmys Acceptance Speech Brought The Entire Audience To Tears
He was presented the award for Outstanding Lead Actor In A Limited Series by Angela Bassett.
Just when we thought we were in for another #EmmysSoWhite.
After a string of losses in other categories, When They See Us finally scored an Emmys win when young king Jharrel Jerome was awarded Outstanding Lead Actor In A Limited Series for his role in Ava DuVernay’s record-breaking Netflix series. The moment brought the entire audience to its feet — and left them in tears.
Jerome, 21, was handed his statue by none other than the radiant Angela Bassett, and proceeded to give a speech to an audience on its feet. “I feel like I should just be in the Bronx right now, chillin’...waiting for my mom’s cooking or something,” he began, before thanking the important people in his life, including his radiant mother who was in the audience. He then wrapped up by honoring the men whose ordeal the series was about. “But most importantly, this is for the men we know as the Exonerated 5,” he concluded, naming each of the men formerly known as the Central Park Five — Antron McCray, Kevin Richardson, Yusef Salaam, Raymond Santana, and Korey Wise.
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The #Emmys crowd reacts to Jharrel Jerome's win for best actor in a limited series or movie for #WhenTheySeeUs https://t.co/nAKOeMzLKN pic.twitter.com/REQskbg27m
— Variety (@Variety) September 23, 2019DuVernay’s series corrects the history of the Central Park Five case, telling the story of the false convictions of five innocent Black men for a brutal 1989 rape, their years of imprisonment and eventual exonerations.
There was hardly a dry eye in the house as Jerome left the stage. This was his first Emmy win, but we’re sure this won’t be the last time we’ll see him accepting an award.
Social media was also very emotional. See what some had to say below.
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Jharrel Jerome winning the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series/Movie for 'When They See Us' got me like... pic.twitter.com/1BILLewvNl
— Clay Cane (@claycane) September 23, 2019 -
Jharrel just snatched his first Emmy the world is finally making sense #Emmys pic.twitter.com/5mnjIL4RLJ
— 𝘉𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘻 𝘉𝘦𝘻𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘢 (@beabezerrab) September 23, 2019 -
Seeing exonerated Korey Wise, of the Central Park Five, cry over Jharrel Jerome's win for portraying him in When They See Us is the most touching thing I've seen in a long time#Emmys pic.twitter.com/oKzfgCQFQF
— Fan Girl Erica (@FanGurlErica) September 23, 2019 -
JHARREL JEROME!!! @TelevisionAcad got this one RIGHT! #Emmys2019
— Danielle Brooks (@thedanieb) September 23, 2019 -
I was gonna raise hell if Jharrel didn't win. pic.twitter.com/lNSgKR3NDG
— Angie Thomas (@angiecthomas) September 23, 2019 -
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Everyone when Jharrel Jerome won #Emmys #Emmys2019 pic.twitter.com/bA3WknvpCw
— Nicole Perez (@nicole_perez1) September 23, 2019 -
Finally!!!!!!! Jharrel! #Emmys
— Matthew A. Cherry (@MatthewACherry) September 23, 2019 -
jharrel jerome is 21 and he's already an emmy winning actor. who's doing it like him? WHO??
— damaris (@elioperlsman) September 23, 2019 -
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Jharrel Just Won, Korey Wise Was Shedding Tears, I Am A Hot Mess Right Now #Emmys pic.twitter.com/Pb1AytD8So
— QQ (@quran_malik) September 23, 2019
Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images
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