American actor, director, producer and screenwriter Tyler Perry was awarded the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at the Academy Awards today and he used the opportunity to urge people to "refuse hate" in a powerful speech.
In 2011, Forbes listed Perry as the highest-paid man in entertainment but his life hasn't always been that way.
As the Madea film-maker was honoured with the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award he reflected on his own humble upbringing and days living out of a car, insisting he only wants to do his best to help others.
He said: "When I set out to help someone, I'm not trying to do anything other than meet somebody at their humanity."
Tyler recalled how, around 17 years ago, a homeless woman asked if he had any extra shoes he could help her out with. He exclaimed, "It stopped me cold because I remember being homeless, and I had one pair of shoes, they were bent over at the heels. So I was like, 'Yeah'. He told how he took her to the film's wardrobe department and the woman was overwhelmed.