Multi-talented Tyler Perry has topped a list of entertainment’s highest-paid men by Forbes magazine. Perry beat out many big names including director Steven Spielberg and singer Elton John. With five movies and two television series released over the last two years, this media mogul has earned himself a profit of $130 million.
With his recent movies and TV adventures, Tyler Perry constantly receives backlash about his work. It’s either you hate or love him. There is no in between when it comes to Mabel Simmons, I mean Tyler Perry. The part I don’t get is why people are so passionate about his or her views. It is too funny to see how people get bent out of shape. Most people get frustrated because of his lack of growth with each anticipated film and perhaps the fact he has a generated a huge following in such a short amount of time.
The African American actor, who is also known as an established director, playwright, screenwriter, author and producer ranking in big bucks is a true testament of how the market appreciates him. Even with the detest, someone has to like him for his business to be as profitable. The lack of competition from companies investing in Black films is futile. Who is he competing against?
There is a strong lineage between Tyler Perry’s work and the light he sheds on issues in the Black community. Take his work for example: it is easy to bash a man, especially a Black man at that. There’s not much thought required to paint a picture of a low-down-dirty-big-scary-abusive-HIV-positive-cheating-downlow-alcoholic brother. This behavior goes back in time before the Middle Passage. Debates endlessly revolve around how much the Black male is worth. Besides not being valued much in society, the exploitation is a cash cow. Yes, if you’ve ever had the opportunity of seeing a Tyler Perry movie, you know he relies on the stereotypes of not just Black good ole’ southern Church’s Chicken smacking culture but Black men. No these stereotypes aren’t always negative; he does have some bible totting “Thank You Jesus” brothers from time to time who comes to save the battered but not broken women. Also people love to see the Black man in trouble as much as they love to see a battered crying Kimberly Elise.
I always suggest that one thing men can get better at is to open their mouths and communicate. Tyler Perry has done this effectively. We can’t be too upset if our voices aren’t heard if we aren’t speaking out. There are tons of media platforms being created. There are plenty of stories and experiences Black men can share that are positive. At the end of the day, Tyler Perry is a filmmaker; his job is to make films. Hating Perry only makes you look simple minded. If you don’t like him, don’t watch or support him.
