While Tyler Perry has been no stranger to fielding criticism for his portfolio of television series, films, or stageplays he’s written, directed, and/or produced over the last 20 years, he’s also never been shy to clap back at the detractors – some of whom are amplified voices from the underrepresented communities he’s trying to spotlight with his work.
His latest headline-grabbing address to the naysayers came courtesy of an interview with actress-singer KeKe Palmer‘s popular podcast ‘Baby, This Is KeKe Palmer.’
Hop inside to see his response to some of the negative attention garnered by his most recent movie ‘Divorce in the Black.’
Just days after comedienne-actress Loni Love rendered the viral tweet above as part of a chorus of jeers lifted in response to ‘Divorce,’ Tyler took to Palmer’s podcast to weigh in on the overall negative attention.
“You gotta drown all of that out, because if you let somebody talk you out of a place that God has put you in, you are going to find yourself in hell,” he said in response to Keke’s question about criticism of his work. “I know for a fact that what I’m doing is exactly what I’m supposed to be doing, because for everyone who is a critic, I have thousands of — what used to be — emails from people saying, ‘This changed my life. Oh my God, you know me. Oh my God, you saw me. How did you know this about my life and my family?’ That is what is important to me.’”
Later in the conversation, Perry didn’t call Loni by name but he did elaborate on why his work is so important for communities who are underrepresented on screen.
“A large portion of my fans are disenfranchised, who cannot get in the Volvo and go to therapy on the weekend. So, you’ve got this highbrow negro who is all up in the air with his nose up looking at everything, then you got people like where I come from, and me, who are grinders, who really know what it’s like. Whose mothers were caregivers for white kids, and were maids, housekeepers…beauticians. Don’t discount these people and say their stories don’t matter. Who are you to be able to say which Black story is important, or should be told?,” he said. “Get out of here with that bullsh*t.”
Look below to see what else he said in the insightful chat.
Tyler’s comments come shortly after Cory Hardrict (star of ‘Divorce’) took to press to defend the movie from its bad reviews.
“I mean, the people love the movie and we do it for the people–that’s who I do it for. If the culture’s rocking with it, it’s all love. Shoutout Mr. Perry, I love Mr. Perry, though. That’s my guy,” he said before later relaying, “everyone has an opinion, and they’re entitled to it…so it’s fine. But as long as the people see it, my neighborhood see it, South Side, Chicago, L.A. see it, everybody see it, then I’m happy, it’s all love.”
See Hardrict’s full commentary on the matter below.
