At last night"s 2016 People"s Choice Awards, Furious 7 took home two of the night"s top prizes, winning for both favorite movie and favorite action movie.
While the franchise is known for its eclectic ensemble cast, star and producer Vin Diesel took the stage by himself to accept the awards – but he wasn"t alone in spirit.
As you likely know, Diesel"s co-star and close friend Paul Walker was killed in a car accident in 2013, and given Walker"s crucial importance to the Furious films, Diesel"s acceptance speech wouldn"t have been complete without a tribute to his late friend.
"You know, as I was coming up here, I always do this. I say I"m not going to get emotional about winning these awards, and I was cool when I was sitting in my seat, and then they handed me two awards," Diesel told the crowd as he fought back tears.
"One for favorite action movie and one for favorite film. You all thought that this was your favorite film. I think of Dom and Brian and I start to think of Paul.
He closed his speech by crooning a few bars from Charlie Puth"s "See You Again," a song that"s come to be closely associated with Walker and his passing:
"I thank you so much and the only thing I can say now, "It"s been a long day without you, my friend, and I"ll tell you all about it when I see you again,"" Diesel said, the crowd roaring as he broke into song.
It was a moment that matched any awards show highlight in terms of pure emotion, and it was a tribute that fans of the franchise, as well family and friends of Paul Walker"s, will cherish for years to come.
