Tyler Perry Urges the World to 'Refuse Hate' in Impassioned Speech at Oscars 2021

Tyler Perry is speaking out with a powerful message.

The 51-year-old star accepted the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at the 2021 Academy Awards on Sunday (April 25) at Union Station in Los Angeles.

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During the speech, Tyler told a story of meeting a homeless woman, and how she reminded him of his own experience at one time of being homeless. He also addressed judgment and hatred amid rising levels of anti-Asian violence, as well as protests amid police brutality.

“It is my hope that all of us will teach our kids: refuse hate. Don’t hate anybody,” he said.

Watch his impassioned speech inside…

“I refuse to hate someone because they are Mexican or because they are Black or white or LBGTQ. I refuse to hate someone because they are a police officer. I refuse to hate someone because they are Asian. I would hope that we would refuse hate.”

He then dedicated the award to standing in the middle, because “that’s where healing happens…it happens in the middle.”

See all of the best looks from the Oscars red carpet.