Taraji P. Henson Honors Close Friend Tyler Perry at BET Awards 2019 - Watch Now

Taraji P. Henson was on hand to honor her close friend Tyler Perry at the 2019 BET Awards on Sunday (June 23) in Los Angeles.

The 48-year-old Empire star donned a sparkling, black dress as she hit the stage to present the 49-year-old director and producer with the Ultimate Icon Award.

PHOTOS: Check out the latest pics of Taraji P. Henson

“In a time where my counterparts were making way more than I was…Tyler Perry was the first to pay me my worth,” Taraji said about Tyler. “A black man did that and that means the world to me.”

Tyler added: “When I started hiring Taraji, Viola Davis and Idris Elba, they couldn’t get jobs in this town but God blessed me to be in a position to be able to hire them. I was trying to help somebody cross.”

15+ pictures inside of Taraji. P Henson and Tyler Perry at the awards show…