Tonight, Jharrel Jerome made history at the Emmys. Jerome, the 21-year-old actor who portrayed Korey Wise in Netflix’s When They See Us, became the first Afro-Latino to win an Emmy for acting when he took home the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie award.
When Jarrel accepted the award, the exonerated five – the five men who were wrongfully convicted of a 1989 rape and whose stories inspired the limited series – were visibly touched. Jerome didn’t have the time to reflect on the momentous occasion on stage, but he thanked the five men, his mom, his papi and shouted out the Bronx. He even spoke a few words in Spanish.
Online, though, people were eager to celebrate Jerome’s accomplishments. Check out a few reactions below.
We gotta give it up to Jharrel Jerome for being the first Dominican actor to win an Emmy. That’s major
— Ashanté Nicole (@ANSTYLEdotCOM) September 23, 2019
❤️❤️❤️❤️ well deserved my Dominican papi ❤️
Emmys: Jharrel Jerome wins for When They See Us #Emmys https://t.co/2TnklSVQrU— Deshka ✨ (@Desh_Nav) September 23, 2019
Jharrel Jerome!!!
My Dominican BX heart is ready to burst! #Emmys pic.twitter.com/2p8GxgdOME
— Cute but Shady (@KaytheBrave) September 23, 2019
Nbd it’s just a dominican american emmy award winning icon !!!! jharrel jerome fellas!!!!! pic.twitter.com/YQsKgumN0N
— sophia (@sophiarxcx) September 23, 2019
Jharrel Jerome throwing a “Te quiero” to his family in the speech for his historic win was a perfect extra touch of beauty. His work in Ava DuVernay’s WHEN THEY SEE US is next level great. #Emmys2019 pic.twitter.com/9AFoj6G8al
— Carlos Aguilar (@Carlos_Film) September 23, 2019
Now this is what you call a win https://t.co/3ZBwtnQAga
— Esmeralda Bermudez (@LATBermudez) September 23, 2019
I told you all a lot of Dominicans especially from the Bronx are missing work tomorrow ❤️❤️❤️
— Kathia Woods @nyff (@kathia_woods) September 23, 2019
When he said “te quiero,” I almost cried… an Afro-Latinx actor just won an Emmy. #WhenTheySeeUs
— Francisco Cabrera-Feo (@iamfrancabrera) September 23, 2019
My heart! @JharrelJerome you do us proud. ❤️ https://t.co/f9CEpJYknz
— Gloria Calderón Kellett (@everythingloria) September 23, 2019
