Watch: Katy Perry surprises Orlando shooting survivor on Ellen
Tony Marrero was shot four times in the back and credits "Rise" with helping his recovery
On The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Katy Perry surprised an Orlando shooting survivor who credits her song “Rise” with helping him through his recovery.
Tony Marrero was shot in the back four times during the Pulse nightclub shooting that left 49 dead and dozens injured. He lay still for an hour, bleeding profusely, unsure of what had happened or where his best friend was.
His wounds were severe — an arm was also shattered by a fifth bullet — but incredibly not a single major organ was hit. Despite technically dying en route to the hospital, Marrero survived. He would later learn that his friend had not.
Speaking on The Ellen Degeneres Show, Marrero revealed that Perry’s song was a key part of his recovery — both physical and mental.
“The lyrics to that song are so powerful…so I embraced it,” he told DeGeneres. “I play it and play and play it because it’s still so beautiful.”
“Have you met Katy yet?” Ellen asked. “You wanna meet Katy?”
Perry then walked out and embraced Marrero.
“I’m shaking right now. We’re both shaking. We’re both electrified by each other and so inspired,” she said.
Perry told Marrero that his story was “so inspirational.” He responded that the lyrics to “Rise” had helped him “from the day that I was in hospital all the way to now. You’re amazing.”
Perry then delivered another incredible surprise.
“I heard that you’re creative just like me and you have dreams and you want to go out there and do good and fulfill them and I heard that you want to go to film school.,” she said. “So I personally want to pay for your first year at film school.”
Watch Marrero’s incredible reaction (tissues at the ready):
Ellen also spoke with Tony about the horrors of June 12th and the response it generated:
Listen to Katy Perry’s “Rise” below:
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