Tyler Perry gave a memorable speech at a unique Oscars ceremony Sunday night, making an impassioned plea for unity and calling on people to "refuse hate" and lift others up.
The billionaire filmmaker, 51, accepted the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award for his for his work feeding and helping others during the pandemic. Past fellow honorees include Oprah Winfrey, Angelina Jolie, Harry Belafonte, Debbie Reynolds and Geena Davis.
Following the speech, Perry told reporters backstage he felt his late mother's presence "in the moment" and elaborated on his onstage talking points, expressing hope that more people would meet in the middle, because that's where a person is able to put themselves "in someone else's shoes and have empathy for those situations."