Katy Perry Surprises An Orlando Shooting Survivor On 'Ellen'

Publish Date
Friday, 9 September 2016, 3:23PM

Ellen has called this "one of the most emotional segments" ever on her show.

Tony Marrero, a survivor of the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, was not expecting to receive this huge surprise after he shared his experience with Ellen DeGeneres on her show.

Marrero and his friend Luis Vielma ventured out to Pulse nightclub on the same evening in June when Omar Marteen opened fire and killed 49 people. While Marrero miraculously survived being shot four times in the back, Vielma was among those who were fatally injured.

DeGeneres recalled that Marrero listened to Katy Perry’s “Rise” while recovering, both physically and emotionally, from the tragedy and managed to bring the singer to the show to meet him in person.

The emotion between Marrero and Katy when they met was overwhelming, which included a number of hugs.

“I just want to say ‘thank you’ for everything you do. Your lyrics to that song helped me from the day that I was in the hospital all the way to now. You’re amazing,” Marrero told Perry.

And then Katy had one last surprise...

“I heard that you want to go to film school, so I personally want to pay for your first year at film school.”

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