Tyler Perry took the role of Santa and spread some Christmas cheer by paying off $434,000 worth of outstanding Walmart balances this week.
Perry paid a big lump sum of cash to ensure that some unsuspecting customers could really enjoy the holidays.
According to TMZ, the movie producer paid off all the layaway balances at two Walmart locations in Georgia. One of the locations was in Atlanta, and the total came up to $178,0000. The other store was located in Douglasville where he paid a whopping total of $256,000.
On Thursday, Perry shared a video informing his fans on Twitter about his good deeds. “I was trying to do this anonymously, but you know how nothing stays secret these days.” He continued, “If you have a layaway at [the store address] and it was in there as of 9:30 am on Dec. 6, 2018, I have paid for all of your layaways for Christmas.”
Perry also informed the customers that all they have to do to receive their layaway items is to go to the store and pay a penny. “You got to go into the Walmart get your layaway and pay one penny.”
He then spoke about why he decided to be so giving, “I know it’s hard times and a lot people are struggling and I’m just really grateful to be in a position to do this.”
This is far from Perry’s first act of charity, he extends largesse to not only his community but friends in need. Back in September, a friend of Perry’s, LaShun Pace, had a mother that fell ill. Her mother, Bettie Pace, had one dying wish, which was to own a home big enough for her family to fit in. The movie creator made her wish come true and bought the mother a $350,000 home in Atlanta not far from where she grew up. In a video thinking him, Pace said, “Tyler Perry, thank you son. … Thank you for the house. God bless you.”
I was trying to do this anonymously but oh well!!! pic.twitter.com/T0dhRHyU66
— Tyler Perry (@tylerperry) December 6, 2018