In his acceptance speech for the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at the 2021 Oscars, Tyler Perry thanked Viola Davis and the Academy board. He shared a story about helping a homeless woman by finding her shoes in his studio wardrobe, which brought her to tears of gratitude. Perry's mother taught him as a boy to refuse hate and blanket judgment of others. He dedicated his award to anyone willing to meet in the middle to have compassionate conversations and enact positive change.