Even days after the death of Hollywood superstar Chadwick Boseman, for many, it still doesn’t feel real.
The announcement of his passing via his official Twitter acount prompted celebrities from both within and outside the Marvel Cinematic Universe to mourn the Black Panther star.
But it wasn’t only online Hollywood celebs that honored the memories of Chadwick Boseman. As reported in Deadline, Boseman was given a touching heartfelt tribute during the MTV Video Music Awards recently – and it highlighted the integrity of his character to a tee.
But before the video, VMA host Keke Palmer gave an impassioned speech about the superheroic actor.
Before we get into the music tonight, we need to take the time to talk about the devastating loss of Chadwick Boseman, an actor whose talent and passion were a true inspiration to all the fans he touched, and everyone he encountered. We dedicate this show to a man whose spirit touched so many. He’s a true hero – not just on screen, but in everything he did. His impact lives forever.
The video played after Palmer’s speech and shows Chadwick Boseman collecting his VMA on stage back in 2018. But in a heartfelt twist, the actor doesn’t go on a speech about himself or the movie – but rather, he honors the life of a real-life superhero instead. That real-life superhero? James Shaw Jr., the man who bravely disarmed an AR-15 gunner in Tennessee that same year.
“Receiving an award for playing a superhero is amazing,” said Boseman, “But, it’s even greater to acknowledge the heroes that we have in real life. So, I just wanna acknowledge somebody that’s here today, James Shaw Jr. If you don’t know James Shaw Jr., he fought off a gunman in Antioch, Tennessee, at a Waffle House, saved lives. So, this [award] is gonna live at your house, God bless you.”
The world needs more superheroes, and we all deserve to see ourselves in them. Chadwick Boseman helped make that happen. Rest in power. pic.twitter.com/d05kkkQR6b
— MTV (@MTV) August 31, 2020
The video ends with “Rest in Power”. A testament to a man who honored the courage of others beside himself.
And it looks like MTV weren’t the only ones to look back fondly on the Black Panther actor. Marvel’s YouTube Channel released a small video, with the King’s former castmates talking about their positive time with him.
