“I feel like I should be in the Bronx right now. Chillin’… waiting for my mom’s cooking.”
Those were the first words from the newly minted Emmy winner Jharrel Jermone, who won lead actor in a limited series or movie for his role as Korey Wise in When They See Us.
The 21-year-old actor is one of the youngest actors to win in the category’s history.
Jermone’s win is the second Emmy Award for the Ava DuVernay directed Netflix series detailing the exoneration of Antron McCray, Kevin Richardson, Yusef Salaam, Raymond Santana and Korey Wise. Last weekend at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards, the Netflix series won for outstanding casting for a limited series.
The gravity of his win quickly made Jermone thankful to be in a room of his icons and sharing it with his mother. “I’m here in front of my inspirations. I’m here in front of people who I’m so motivated by,” he said. “I’d like to thank my mom, my beautiful mother… of course Ava, for giving me this opportunity.”
Jermone continued: “Most importantly this is for the men we know as the Exonerated Five. For Raymond, Yusef, Antron, Kevin, and King Korey Wise. Thank you so much it’s an honor and the blessing.
In his speech, Jermone, who played Wise as a teen until he was rightfully acquitted at age 30, called him “King Korey Wise.”
See his full Emmy speech below.