Actor and comedian Tyler Perry surprised thousands of senior shoppers by picking up their grocery tabs during senior shopping hours Wednesday.
According to reports from different news outlets, the media mogul paid for groceries at 44 Kroger stores in Atlanta, where he began his career in theater. Perry, who was born and raised in New Orleans, also paid for groceries at 29 Winn-Dixie stores across Louisiana during at-risk shopping hours.
Thousands of senior shoppers across 44 Kroger supermarkets and 29 Winn-Dixies in New Orleans, Atlanta and Georgia were surprised when the staff told their bill had been already picked up by an “Atlanta Angel”.
Felix Turner, manager of corporate affairs for Kroger’s Atlanta Division said in a statement:
“Senior and higher-risk Kroger shoppers in metro Atlanta did receive a nice surprise at the register this morning when they learned Tyler Perry had paid their grocery tab in full.”
Meanwhile, supermarket companies thanked Perry on Twitter for his generosity and applauded him for giving back to his community.
Felix Turner added:
“We would like to join our customers in thanking Mr. Perry for his kindness and generosity during this unprecedented pandemic.”
“It was truly a pleasure to see our customers fill with joy and gratitude as the news spread throughout 44 stores across metro Atlanta.”
“Thank you to our friend @tylerperry for paying it forward by purchasing groceries for elderly and high-risk #winndixie customers shopping at Louisiana stores this morning,” Winn-Dixie tweeted Wednesday. “Winn-Dixie applauds your love for community and sincere generosity. #StrongerTogether #WinningTogether.”
People also took to social media to share their surprising experience with the ‘Atlanta Angel’.
One Twitter user named Connie (@ccbklein) posted:
“My mom went to Winn Dixie this morning and as she went to check out they told her that Tyler Perry was paying for everyone in the store’s groceries!! What a blessing he is!!! @tylerperry”
Another post from Kaylin Richard (@kaylinrichard13) wrote:
“So I went get some stuff for lunch today at the Winn Dixie by my house in br.. go to the register to pay and apparently Tyler Perry is paying for everyone’s groceries at that store right now.. not a bad way to start a Wednesday”
As some people know, this isn’t Perry’s first act of generosity.
Earlier this week, Perry gave $21,000 in tips to 42 out-of-work servers at Houston’s West Paces location in Atlanta.
According to NBC affiliate WXIA reporter Brendan Keefe, with all of Perry’s good deeds these past days, he initially wished to be anonymous.
Keefe said:
“He wanted to be known only as Atlanta Angel.”