Did Donald Glover Attend the Emmys as ‘Atlanta’s Teddy Perkins?

UPDATE:

The mystery continues… who was dressed up as Teddy Perkins at the Emmys?

In a new photo, it was revealed NOT to be Donald Glover, who created and portrayed the character on his FX show, Atlanta.

Unsolved Mysteries: Who was Teddy Perkins? pic.twitter.com/qL7xEWcMCM

— jujoffer (@jujoffer) September 18, 2018

The Internet has theories about who was dressed as Teddy Perkins at the Emmys https://t.co/BCZW2HD3so pic.twitter.com/sRQYxcRSdS

— thisis50 (@thisis50) September 19, 2018

There’s a theory on social media circulating that it was in fact SNL star Jay Pharoah.

The comedian even posted a photo on his Instagram celebrating Teddy. He wrote, “I’m all for it, phuckin TEDDY PERKINS N THE @atlantafx cast Ayyyyeee! #emmys.” Then posted a selfie with Wanda Sykes, in which he was wearing a very similar looking burgundy tuxedo.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Va love, Chesapeake and Newport News Ayyyeeeeeee #Emmys #Wandasykes #757

A post shared by Jay Pharoah (@jaypharoah) on Sep 18, 2018 at 12:23am PDT

ORIGINAL:

There was someone in the front row at the 2018 Emmys that you may not have recognized… and that’s because he’s not an actor or a producer or a director. He’s a fictional character.

It was Donald Glover dressed in whiteface as Teddy Perkins — a persona from his FX television series Atlanta.

is that… teddy perkins… #Emmys pic.twitter.com/Y63lAsvaSa

— The FADER (@thefader) September 18, 2018

The episode, titled “Teddy Perkins,” is about Darius (Lakeith Stanfield) meeting Teddy at his mansion for a free piano. Darius soon learns that Teddy is bizarre recluse who wants to turn his massive home into a museum, which becomes creepier by the minute.

Fans have compared to Teddy to Michael Jackson as, in the episode, he talks about his former child star status. He also seems to have bleached his darker skin and changed his appearance due to a health issue.

🚨not a drill🚨

Teddy Perkins is at the #Emmys (📷 via @jordanzakarin) pic.twitter.com/9YPyifoVdF

— UPROXX (@UPROXX) September 18, 2018

Donald Glover didn’t win, but he did come dressed as Teddy Perkins. #Emmys pic.twitter.com/SZwlROoMOJ

— Matt Wilstein (@mattwilstein) September 18, 2018

At other points during the annual awards show, Glover appeared as himself in the front row, which had some on Twitter wondering: Was it someone else in character?

There’s no way Donald Glover could’ve made this change so quickly. It’s definitely somebody else. pic.twitter.com/WVZfHw2yw0

— Orthodox Black (@divaTy) September 18, 2018

Glover was nominated for 16 Emmy awards, including Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series for the Teddy episode and Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series.

Check out the promo below: