Vin Diesel tried not to get too emotional while accepting the People’s Choice Awards for Favorite Movie and Favorite Action Movie on Wednesday, January 6, but the action star finally gave in to his feelings by the end of his speech — by bursting into song.
The Furious 7 star, 48, hopped onstage at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on behalf of the star-studded cast and almost immediately began to tear up.
“You know, as I was coming up here, and I always do this, I said, ‘I’m not gonna get emotional about winning these awards,’” he said. “And I was cool while I was sitting in my seat, and then they handed me two awards — one for favorite action movie and one for favorite film. You all thought that this was your favorite film.”
The actor noted that his thoughts then naturally turned to his late pal and costar Paul Walker, who died in a tragic car accident in November 2013 at the age of 40.
“They say to make [the speech] short and sweet, so I will try to make this short and sweet,” he continued. “You would be amazed with what you can do with love. You would be amazed with what a powerful force that is.”
Diesel recalled how the cast — which includes Jason Statham, Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana Brewster, Tyrese Gibson, Dwayne Johnson and Ludacris, among others — was initially stunned by Walker’s sudden death and didn’t know whether they should continue with the series, but “love” ultimately made them a stronger team.
Watch Vin Diesel sing a touching tribute to his Furious 7 co-star Paul Walker at People’s Choice Awards 2016. #PCAs https://t.co/hkmRrnre3B
— People’s Choice (@peopleschoice) January 7, 2016
“These are real people who are voting,” the actor noted, thanking fans for choosing his film. “It’s real fans who are saying how much they appreciate our work and the only thing I can say now is …”
And then the action star burst into a rendition of Wiz Khalifa’s “See You Again.”
“It’s been a long day without you, my friend,” he crooned. “And I’ll tell you all about it when I see you again.”
Twitter exploded with reactions to Diesel’s emotional singing.
Things I didn’t expect to happen today: Vin Diesel making me cry #PCAs
— OklahomaWeather (@forthegwen) January 7, 2016
Vin Diesel talking about Paul Walker breaks my heart everytime ? #PCAs
— Sara (@JensenAcklesGod) January 7, 2016
Vin Diesel falando do Paul Walker #PeoplesChoiceAwards pic.twitter.com/eUui9sMxJc
— larissa (@growupes) January 7, 2016
