‘That moment is even more powerful today’
Austin Butler’s emotional tribute to Lisa Marie Presley has gone viral in the wake of the singer’s death from cardiac arrest just two days after she attended the Golden Globes. She was 54.
Butler won the Best Actor, Motion Picture Drama, for his starring role in the Elvis biopic on Monday night and made special mention of the Presley family during his acceptance speech.
The 31-year-old, who had spent time with Elvis’ daughter Lisa Marie and wife Priscilla in order to embody the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, vowed to love them “forever”.
https://twitter.com/unchainedbutler/status/1613041923585081345
Butler said: “I also want to thank our incredible producers and Warner Bros and the Presley family.
“Thank you guys, thank you for opening your hearts, your memories, your home to me. Lisa Marie, Priscilla, I love you forever.” V
ideo of the speech has now gone viral on Twitter, with grieving fans noting the significance of his words now.
One fan wrote: “If you haven’t seen Austin Butler thanking Priscilla and Lisa Marie Presley two days ago, see that again this is extra special now… RIP Lisa Marie.”
Another wrote: “Austin Butler thanking Priscilla and Lisa Marie Presley two days ago is extra powerful now …RIP Lisa Marie.”
And a third said: “Remembering #LisaMariePresley ….just two days ago as Austin Butler thanks Priscilla and Lisa Marie Presley at Golden Globes, that moment is even more powerful today #RIPLisaMarie #riplisamariepresley , thoughts and prayers to family and friends.”
Lisa Marie and Presley had accompanied Butler on much of the publicity tour for Elvis and the trio had grown close during filming of the biopic.
After watching Elvis, Priscilla raved about Baz Luhrmann’s vision and Austin’s performance as the King of Rock and Roll, to whom she was married to for just over six years.
The film chronicles the life and career of Elvis from his early days as a child growing up in Mississippi to his ascent as a rock and roll icon and movie star, along with his complex relationship with his manager, Colonel Tom Parker.
The singer-songwriter, who was the couple’s only child together, was hospitalised Thursday after suffering a cardiac arrest in her home.
“It is with a heavy heart that I must share the devastating news that my beautiful daughter Lisa Marie has left us,” Priscilla Presley said in a statement to The Associated Press.
“She was the most passionate, strong and loving woman I have ever known.”
She asked for privacy as the family dealt with “this profound loss.”
The news came just two days after Presley attended the Golden Globe Awards. She was joined on the carpet by Jerry Schilling, 80, a longtime friend of her late father and member of the so-called Memphis Mafia who looked after Elvis.
Her mother, Priscilla, was also in attendance.
Presley released three studio albums throughout her career, most recently the album “Storm & Grace” In 2012.
She has also received recognition for her charitable works around homelessness and literacy in Memphis, Tennessee, where she was born and her father kicked off his legendary music career.
Speaking to Good Morning America in 2007 she reflected: “He’d always wake me up to sing in the middle of the night, get on the table and sing.”
“I remember him as my dad, but he was a very exciting dad.”
Presley was married four times: first to musician Danny Keough and later to pop star Michael Jackson. She later married actor Nicolas Cage and guitarist Michael Lockwood.
Related links:
- Lisa Marie Presley, daughter of Elvis, dies suddenly aged 54
- Austin Butler admits he didn’t talk to his family for three years while preparing to play Elvis
