While accepting a popcorn-shaped statuette for Best Hero at Monday nights MTV Movie and TV awards, Chadwick Boseman decided to hand his prize over to a real life hero: James Shaw Jr., the young man who stopped a gunman at a Tennessee Waffle House in April. Shaw Jr.s story quickly went viral, thanks to both his instant bravery and the a GoFundMe page he started for the families of the victims of the shooting, selflessly raising nearly a quarter of a million dollars.
“Receiving an award for playing a superhero is amazing, but its even greater to acknowledge the heroes we have in real life,” Boseman said midway through his speech. “So I just want to acknowledge somebody that's here today: James Shaw Jr.”
The camera then panned to Shaw Jr., who was in the audience, apparently totally surprised at Bosemans warm shout-out. “You didnt even know we were about to do this, did you?” Boseman exclaimed. He then invited Shaw Jr. up to the stage, while the crowd gave the young hero a standing ovation. Boseman then gifted the MTV Award to Shaw Jr., telling him “this is gonna live at your house.”
Boseman was accepting the award for his performance in Black Panther, the hit Marvel movie that quickly spun into a cultural phenomena, making over $1 billion worldwide. At the start of his acceptance speech, he thanked fans for making the movie a blockbuster success, acknowledging director Ryan Coogler for making a movie that “everybody could embrace.”
Get Vanity Fairs HWD NewsletterSign up for essential industry and award news from Hollywood.Full ScreenPhotos:The Must-See Looks from the Black Panther Red CarpetYohana DestaYohana Desta is a Hollywood writer for VanityFair.com.
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