Jharrel Jerome Wins First Emmy Award For His Powerful Performance In ‘When They See Us’

Congrats to the rising actor.

(AllHipHop News) Jharrel Jerome is on pace to have a very productive career in the acting field. After starring in the Oscar-winning film Moonlight, Jerome was selected by director Ava DuVernay to play Korey Wise in When They See Us.

The 21-year-old New Yorker’s standout portrayal of Wise in the Netflix miniseries earned recognition from the Television Academy. Last night, Jerome won his first Emmy Award in the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie category. He also received a standing ovation at the ceremony.

https://twitter.com/ava/status/1175958882608242689

DuVernay tweeted, “Congratulations to our very own @JharrelJerome! Felt sooooo good to see you up there representing for all 179 actors and 312 crew members. But most of all for #Exonerated5 and our King, @koreykingwise! You deserve this moment! Onward! #Emmy2019.”

When They See Us was based on the real-life story of five teenagers of color that were falsely convicted of raping a white woman in the late 1980s. Antron McCray, Kevin Richardson, Yusef Salaam, Raymond Santana, and Korey Wise –  the men first labeled “The Central Park Five,” now known as “The Exonerated 5” – were in attendance at the Emmys.