Entertainer Tyler Perry came to Pastor Joel Osteen’s defense on Thursday and announced during a Facebook Live video that Perry will be giving $1 million to help the victims of Hurricane Harvey.
READ: Here is the Complete Story Behind the Attacks on Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church
“I know there’s been some controversy about Joel Osteen and him not opening the doors of the church. Let me tell you something: Joel and Victoria are amazing people,” Perry said, referencing the pastor and his wife. “There’s no way that they would lock people out of the church and not let people in for shelter.”
https://www.facebook.com/TylerPerry/videos/10156009541433268/
The actor said that he spoke with Osteen on the phone about the situation and that the preacher’s explanation about safety issues surrounding rising waters delaying the opening up of the church “made perfect sense” to him.
In fact, Perry announced that he will be giving $250,000 to Lakewood Church, Osteen’s house of worship, in an effort to help the church’s hurricane relief efforts.
“Before you just run and judge somebody real quick, you need to know the whole circumstances,” the actor added.
Perry also spoke about the kindness and goodwill that people are exhibiting in the wake of the hurricane and said that it is truly representative of the heart and soul of America.
“[The recent situation in] Charlottesville is not who we are … as a people,” he said. “What I’m seeing in Houston, the humanity, the caring for everybody — black, white, yellow, green — it doesn’t matter — that is who we are as Americans and I’m so proud of everyone who is helping so many people there.”