Tyler Perry Turns Santa

Tyler Perry knows how to wish his Atlanta neighbors a Merry Christmas — the filmmaker paid off all the customers’ items held on layaway at two local Walmart stores.

Perry, 49, announced the holiday layaway-giveaway on Instagram Thursday. The Associated Press reported Perry paid $434,000 in bills to free up the customers’ items held with a deposit at two Atlanta-area stores. Then he said, pick ’em up.

“If you have a layaway at either place and it was in there as of 9:30 this morning. Then I have paid for all of your lay-aways for Christmas. So Merry Christmas,” said the grinning Perry.

“I know it’s hard times and a lot of people are struggling,” Perry explained. “I’m just really really grateful to be able to be in a situation to do this. So God bless you. Go get your stuff.”

Perry said in the social media post that he tried to make the payments anonymously. “But you know how nothing stays secret these days, so I’m just going to go on and tell you,” he said.

LeMia Jenkins, a spokesperson for Walmart, told People.com that Perry paid for products that were ordered by 1,500 people ahead of the holiday season.

“Tyler Perry’s generous donation is making an unbelievable difference for so many families, and we can’t thank him enough for his kindness,” she said in a statement. “The heartfelt excitement and joy we’re seeing from our customers as a result of his holiday gift has been touching.”