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Homecoming King Bestows Crown to Friend With Cerebral Palsy and Ellen DeGeneres Just Surprised Them Both
Max Akin and K.L. Norwood are two teenagers from Texas who are redefining what it means to be kind, which earned them a trip to The Ellen Show and an unforgettable surprise.
Akin and Norwood are both involved with their high school football team. Akin is the quarterback for the team, while Norwood is the equipment manager. Both of them were also nominated for homecoming king.
During the school’s homecoming game Akin was awarded the title of homecoming king. However, in a surprising turn of events Akin turned and gave the crown to Norwood, who has cerebral palsy, instead of keeping the title for himself. Akin didn’t give the crown to Norwood because of his disability, but rather because he felt he deserved it more.
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The touching moment gained national attention, prompting DeGeneres to invite the pair on her show, but they didn’t expect what DeGeneres might do for them during their interview.
“I think people are getting it mixed up, thinking that I gave him the crown because he has [cerebral palsy],” Akin explained to DeGeneres. “But in fact, that’s not it at all. I don’t see K.L. as a disabled person, I see him as a great human being, you know? As a homecoming king, you should really be able to make people happy, and give good vibes all around the room, and K.L. never fails to do that.”
For Norwood getting the crown “felt really awesome.”
“I felt like I was the only person in the stadium at that moment,” Norwood shared.
Akin told DeGeneres, “I think me and K.L. really want to get across the fact that, as corny as it may sound, you gotta treat everybody the way you want to be treated. And if you ever have a chance to make somebody’s day, or make somebody happy, you should take that chance.”
DeGeneres loved their touching gesture so much, she told them that sponsor Shutterfly was donating $10,000 to each of the young men for college.
Watch their appearance on The Ellen Show below.
