At the Celebration of Black Cinema and Television event, Tyler Perry delivered a heartfelt speech that earned him a standing ovation. Honored with the Icon Award, the prolific filmmaker, writer, and director reflected on his journey, the challenges of fame, and the need for love and resilience.
In his address, Perry acknowledged the recent tragic loss of Steve Mensch, president of Tyler Perry Studios, who died in a plane crash. He expressed his need for healing and spoke candidly about the pressures of being in the spotlight. “When you are an icon, you become a target,” Perry remarked. “There’s always somebody at the bottom trying to tear you down when everyone at the top is applauding.”
Perry, whose career spans 24 feature films, 20 stage plays, and 17 television shows, emphasized the importance of spreading love. “This life is so precious,” he said. “I just want to make people laugh, inspire, and encourage them. At 55, I’m tired of the nonsense. In 15 years, I’ll be 75, and I just want to do good things.”
The Los Angeles event, hosted by comedian Jay Pharoah, celebrated Black excellence in entertainment. Honorees included:
• Malcolm D. Lee(Career Achievement Award) for Girls Trip.
• Regina King(Trailblazer Award) for her work on Shirley.
• Angela Patton and Natalie Rae(Documentary Award) for Netflix’s Daughters.
• John David Washington(Actor Award) for The Piano Lesson.
• Ryan Destiny(Rising Star Award) for The Fire Inside.
• Jharrel Jerome(Breakthrough Actor Award) for Unstoppable.
• Steve McQueen(Director Award) for Blitz.
Cynthia Erivo, honored with the Actress Award for her role in Wicked, delivered a moving speech on representation. “As a Black queer nominee, bringing Elphaba to life was the gift of a lifetime,” she said. Highlighting her character’s boldness and distinct look, Erivo added, “Her greenness reflects my Blackness. Representation is a powerful thing.”
The event underscored the transformative power of Black stories and celebrated the trailblazers shaping the entertainment industry.
