Jonathan Majors was surrounded by supporters on Friday as he accepted his first award since he was convicted of assault and harassment in December.
The Creed III actor thanked God and Hollywood Unlocked founder Jason Lee as he accepted the Perseverance Award on the 4th Influence Awards in Los Angeles whereas reflecting on his arrest and guilty verdict in his speech.
“I reckon of us wanna learn about this final 12 months,” Majors mentioned in a clip shared on X. “As a Black man within the prison justice system, I felt anger, I felt unhappiness, damage, shock. Once they snatched me up out of my condo in handcuffs, I didn’t really feel like all that. I didn’t really feel like Jonathan Majors, Mr. Creed, Mr. Kang. … I felt like a bit scared, weak boy.”
He continued, “Regardless of the help and proof that was in my favor, I knew shit was unhealthy. And it was unhealthy due to who I used to be and what I’m. And that is what occurs to Black folks all too typically. Guilt and innocence typically have little to do with the end result. That’s the cruel actuality I realized. However I do know Black males face this daily. It deeply impacts us, modifications the way in which we navigate via the world.”
Majors instantly broke down in tears as Iyanla Vanzant introduced him with the award, greeting him with a kiss on the brow and a hug.
Jonathan Majors and Meagan Good attend Hollywood Unlocked’s 4th Influence Awards on June 21, 2024 in Beverly Hills. (Arnold Turner/Getty Pictures for Jason Lee/Hollywood Unlocked Influence Awards)
The MCU star acknowledged, “I’m simply me. … I’m imperfect. I’ve shortcomings, I acknowledge them. I really like my craft. I really like my daughter, my household, my canine, my exercise buddies who got here out right here. I respect y’all. I’m simply that man whose religion has been examined and has been strengthened by this testimony.
“There will likely be moments in your life when issues get darkish, and I imply actually darkish. And I’ve seen them depths, I’ve seen that darkness in myself. I’ve sat in that pitch black, and what I’ve realized is that if you catch a glimpse of sunshine, you run as laborious and as quick as you possibly can in direction of it. And I’ll by no means take that gentle with no consideration once more.”
He then went on to thank those that have been his “gentle” and present him help, together with “my brother Will Smith, letting a homie know, ‘Hey, I’m excited about you man. Keep up.’ Tyler Perry breathed life into me, simply supporting and loving on folks the way in which he does. David Oyelowo and his entire group on Threads — I feel a few of y’all could also be on that thread, I received’t take part as a result of it’s loopy — however I really feel the love. Deon and Roxanne Taylor gave me an workplace of their manufacturing workplace after I was strolling via the desert, feeling misplaced and loopy. [They] put a battery in my again, as he says. Courtney B. Vance has been with me since Lovecraft Nation, my Uncle George eternally. Whoopi Goldberg fed me and Meagan in the future — we wasn’t hungry, however we had been over there hanging out — and he or she breathed this gentle of knowledge and understanding and caring onto me and my queen.
“And it was Whoopi who allowed us to know the help of group. I respect all of y’all. They’re extraordinary folks,” added Majors.
Majors went on to thank “all the ladies in my household,” however not earlier than he burst into tears once more whereas thanking Good, who attended the occasion with him.
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“I really like you past all restrict, with all my power, with all my coronary heart, I really like you,” he mentioned. “I don’t must be so powerful and powerful if you carried me so, so, so many nights. I really like you.”
The More durable They Fall actor sang the refrain of Chaka Khan’s ‘Via the Hearth’ as the gang laughed.
“And simply to Ella, my child woman, we gonna be alright. And your father loves you,” added Majors. “I really like you and I thanks for this.”
After Majors was found guilty on two misdemeanor counts of reckless assault and harassment in his home violence case with ex Grace Jabbari, he was sentenced to probation and to take part in a one-year home violence therapy program.
Though he was fired from several projects and dropped by his talent management company, Majors has booked his first role since the trial, Martin Villeneuve’s Cruel.
