Tyler Perry, MPTF To Receive Humanitarian Award At The Oscars

Hollywood filmmaker, Tyler Perry, alongside the Motion Picture and Television Fund (MPTF), will be honoured with the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at the 93rd Oscar ceremony scheduled to hold in April 2021.

According to the organizers, the two recipients are being recognized for their ‘widespread generosity’ during the coronavirus pandemic.

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It was also noted that the two recipients have strived to help people in the entertainment industry impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, with the filmmaker helping many people return to work at his Tyler Perry Studios while the MPTF has provided social services to nearly 9,000 members.

The Academy President, David Rubin, said, “There has been such widespread generosity in our industry that limiting the Hersholt Humanitarian Award to one recipient, this year, in particular, was impossible. So, we are breaking with tradition and giving two awards to honour that spirit.

“Tyler’s cultural influence extends far beyond his work as a filmmaker. He has quietly and steadily focused on humanitarian and social justice causes from the beginning of his career, caring for people who are most often ignored.

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“The work of the MPTF is more vital than ever, and the organization has gone above and beyond to help our community.”

There have been 39 Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Awards given since 1957, with recipients including Bob Hope, Oprah Winfrey, and, most recently, Geena Davis. Perry and the MPTF will receive their Oscar statuettes at the 93rd Academy Awards on April 25.

Since 1956 when the award category was initiated, there have been 39 recipients including Bob Hope, Oprah Winfrey, Angelina Jolie and Geena Davis.