Jussie Smollett
"Empire" star Jussie Smollett, pictured on the red carpet at the 2015 Teen Choice Awards, accepted the award for Choice TV Breakout Show on Sunday, Aug. 16, 2015. Getty

The “Empire” scooped up its first award at the 2015 Teen Choice Awards Sunday night. Stars Jussie Smollett and Bryshere Y. Gray accepted the surfboard for the Choice TV Breakout Show.

“See You Again” rapper Wiz Khalifa and “Furious 7” actress Michelle Rodriguez presented the award after getting through a little teleprompter malfunction. Smollett and Gray were a little nervous when they took to the stage, but they made sure to thank their “Empire” fans and the dedicated cast and crew who helped make the Fox drama a success.

“We cannot thank you enough,” Gray told the audience.

Smollett chimed in to tell the crowd that they are the “future leaders.” “Be who you are,” he said, surfboard in hand. “Change the world.”

“Empire” and the cast was nominated for nine awards total at the 2015 Teen Choice Awards, including Choice Song from a Movie or TV Show, Choice TV Chemistry, Choice TV Breakout Star, Choice TV Scene Stealer, Choice TV Villain, Choice TV Actress Drama, Choice TV Actor Drama and Choice TV Show Drama.