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Spike Lee Rips Tyler Perry

Posted by: BlogXilla 5/29/2009 | 31,303 Views

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Spike Lee had an interview with Ed Gordon on Our World with Black Enterprise scheduled to air this weekend. In the interview he complained about “coonery and buffoonery” and both of Tyler Perry’s shows “Meet the Browns” and “House of Payne,” comparing them to characters from minstrel shows.

“We’ve had this discussion back and forth. When John Singleton [made 'Boyz in the Hood'], people came out to see it. But when he did ‘Rosewood,’ nobody showed up. So a lot of this is on us! You vote with your pocketbook, your wallet. You vote with your time sitting in front of the idiot box, and [Tyler Perry] has a huge audience. We shouldn’t think that Tyler Perry is going to make the same film that I am going to make, or that John Singleton or my cousin Malcolm Lee [would make]. As African-Americans, we’re not one monolithic group, so there is room for all of that. But at the same time, for me, the imaging is troubling and it harkens back to ‘Amos n’ Andy.’”

“Each artist should be allowed to pursue their artistic endeavors, but I still think there is a lot of stuff out today that is coonery and buffoonery. I know it’s making a lot of money and breaking records, but we can do better. … I am a huge basketball fan, and when I watch the games on TNT, I see these two ads for these two shows (Tyler Perry’s “Meet the Browns” and “House of Payne”), and I am scratching my head. We got a black president, and we going back to Mantan Moreland and Sleep ‘n’ Eat?

TO SEE TYLER PERRY'S RESPONSE ON SUNDAY'S 60 MINUTES, CLICK HERE

239 comments

Well its about time, Im not a Lee fan but he sure got this right. Tyler Perry has no business making movies or tv shows, I dont care about how he portrays blacks though. I just dont see how anybody could find any of it good, dressing up like some old black lady I mean come on! He's like a black Ernest (know what I mean vern) about the only thing he hasnt done a movie on is saving xmas. It just pains me that there are millions out there stupid enough to actually pay to watch this stuff at the theater.

TJ 10/27/2009 | reply
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- your ignorance to say the least and you sound like a redneck
  
  jd michael 10/27/2009 | reply
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I think that movies have two different roles, entertainment and informational entertainment context. Now these two guys are on very different ends of this beast, so degrading the work that the next “artist” does is no better than the buffoonery we crucify. It is not up the movie that is intended for pure entertainment value to educate and teach the American people . THESE ARE JUST FICTIONAL portrayals and don’t represent African American and or any other ethnic group in any fashion. If we look to the media to rectify any myths and misconceptions of our culture that have been imbedded since the beginning of civilization than we as a people fail not the fictional movies meant for entertainment value. Look at the news at any given day in your home town, shouldn’t we be more worried about what our young men and woman are doing in the “real” world that portray buffoonery and negative implications on our race? I’m just saying, a few movies and sitcoms seem minimal compared to the newspapers and news I see and read everyday. And guess what if I don’t want to watch a movie I feel degrades my race I JUST DON’T PAY TO WATCH IT and if it comes on the television I JUST TURN THE CHANNEL.

creolegirl27 10/27/2009 | reply
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Lord help us not tear each other down....to remember You & remeber we are all we have.

STAR

star russell 10/27/2009 | reply
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Everyone should watch BAMBOOZLED to know why shows like

Meet the Browns and others are so bad.

John King 10/27/2009 | reply
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- Another good movie about this modern day baffoonery is called Dancing after Dark.
  
  John King 10/27/2009 | reply
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- I TOTALLY agree w/you! I never could understand why our people continue to support this foolishness that Tyler Perry puts out! I HATE Madea! I mean, who wants 2 see a loud, rude obnoxious gun-toting grandma! There's no way Tyler would get the same financial backing if he decided to create more conscious style movies that elevate & uplift our people. Like Spike said, movies like Rosewood, Eve's Bayou & Malcolm X did not get the support from hollywood like Tyler's foolish movies. & PLEASE don't get me started on "Meet the Browns"-whew!
  
  Shelly 10/27/2009 | reply
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- one have nothing to do with the other. Thats just like me saying compare me to you. Broaden your mind.
  
  jd michael 10/27/2009 | reply
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- shelly57 I totally agree. I have never paid for any of his movies. I have however seen some of the DVDs. I must admit, some (most) of Tyler Perry's work is painful to endure. I cant stomach to listen to that man who mis-pronounces every other word in his limited vocabulary. I hate that!! Cant he upgrade that role and send that man back to school in a movie or something... Let him earn a GED and obtain some grammar skills? I mean how many Blacks still walk around sounding that ignorant? And dont get me started on that sitcom! I came across it one day, and all I heard was people saying "Cooch" instead of "Coach" in reference to the Coach Purses, and other non sense. And this happens every 3 or 4 sentences in his work. I hate that. I am a proud black woman who speaks correct English and has taught my daughters to do so as well. I hate to hear black people walk around repeating that stupidity.. "Hellurrrr.. and Hall a lu yarrrrrr" That's so ignorant Tyler. I'm glad you have the platform as a Black man, but let's put more positive and literate work out there. God, inspiration, and truth can be incorporated into decent work.
  
  gcsu 10/27/2009 | reply
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- You are so right if they did go out and rent "bamboozle" right now they will know exactly what "Spike Lee" is saying
  
  Gene 10/27/2009 | reply
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spike lee to me has always come off as a smug,pissed off lonely little man,quick to pull the race card when it helps his own shallow beliefs,he's to me just like bush and cheney-highly irrelevant,i truly enjoy mr.perry's movies and sitcoms spike instead of hating try to encourage the brother,we don't need you to tell us what african american to spend our money on if you made something worth while maybe i wil go and see it.

robert 10/27/2009 | reply
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I've been saying this for years about Tyler Perry and that Madea character or should I say caricature. Pure buffoonery slapstick. Simply ridiculus.

John King 10/27/2009 | reply
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- People have learned of a word and running wild with it. Buffoon- a person who is always clowning and trying to be funny. And what is soooo wrong with that. When it comes to people of color it turns into something negative(why) I dont get it. He has not demeaned any race. He uses this character to grab the attention of his audience to send out a positive image. If you stop looking at the character as a negative image you will see the bigger picture of the positive message. It cant be no worse than black folks calling one another n*gga
  
  jd michael 10/27/2009 | reply
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Spike Lee really needs to stay in his lane. there's more than enough money to be made in black cinema for the both of them to get along. Just like every black person is not complex, nor does every black character need be complicated. Spike is an elitist azz. there was a great article at http://spatterblog.com/ about how Spike is just getting outta hand. Spike is aight but Madea makes me laugh my azz off!!

Evelyn 10/27/2009 | reply
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Strangely, one of my favorite Spike Lee films was Bamboozled and yet I have enjoyed so many of Tyler Perry's movies: to me his characters are not embarrassing or just backward minstrel showmen bamboozled by dumb bum Hollywood America. Would a Shakespeare tell a Dickens not to write popular stuff about human sentiments if they had lived at the same time? There is room for everyone. Both filmmakers have made some great movies and both have made some real dogs...popular doesn't always mean shallow, and deep doesn't always mean authentic to every person out there. Spike is sometimes perceived as pretentious (or even snobby) by ordinary folks just as TP is sometimes perceived as slapstick and apologetic by others. But the underlying themes are what matter; one approaches the human condition through critical insight; the other more through humor and matters related to faith. Both are equally insightful when it comes to human character, even if guilty of stereotypes or theoretical biases here or there. It might be good to take a second look at the work of both men because both have something important to say beneath the simple or complex wrapping.

Ellen Keys 10/26/2009 | reply
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For those who keep saying Spike is hating on Tyler Perry, your missing the point..Spike is entitled to his opinion and he should not have to say it behind closed doors..Tyler Perry's movies may make money at the box office but how many movies will he make with the same story line..Black woman abused mentally and physically by dark skinned man to then find jesus and be rescued by light skinned man...same old same..and as Spike noted, the stereo typed characters Perry continues to show us are all buffoons and he needs to create a better balance of characters in his shows

steve Ice 10/26/2009 | reply
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- I think the point is that we as human beings are all different. Which means film makers, artist, singers, writers, are all not going to be the same. Tyler writes his plays and movies from the things that he has experienced and for you to call that sterotypical is quite insulting. Maybe you can't identify with any of the characters or situations in his movies or plays but OBVIOUSLY there are several blacks AND caucasians in addition to other ethnicities that can relate. So to Spike Lee, YES stop the hate and criticism and negative opinion of a brother who had nothing and was homeless but decided to PEN his pain and talk about his grandmother and mother and others and depict them through his characters. I love him and support him 100% and think we as human beings need to learn to show love and support to one another even at times when we may not totally understand and relate to something.
  
  Andrew 10/26/2009 | reply
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- Did you see Why did I get Married, The Family that Preys, Daddys Little Girl?
  
  jd michael 10/27/2009 | reply
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- steve Ice- you obviously can't grasp the point yourself,it's too many closed minded people trying to comment on this topic without an understanding
  
  lil red 10/27/2009 | reply
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- This is so true!!! Tyler Perry does use the same storylines over and over. I understand what Spike Lee is saying; Tyler Perry has such a large audience that he should do something bigger than portraying all of the stereotypes that other people see in blacks. Spike Lee is not a hater, he is just trying to advance the black community into something more than a loud beligerent Madea.
  
  Niki 10/27/2009 | reply
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I agree 100% w/ Spike Lee about Tyler Perry. Its about time someone said it. He is only promoting stereotypes. Not the "madea" character because everyone knows she is a caricature. However, most others-- meet the browns, house of payne, and black educated men in his madea series are all negative stereotypes. If Tyler were a white producer/director we'd all be boycotting. Why have a double standard for a black director/producer. He has to be accountable.

iam06 10/26/2009 | reply
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It's a case of serious HATIN on the part of Spike Lee. Mr. Perry's films are wholesome, funny and usually have a spiritual message. Spikes movie's are stereotypical especially of Light Skinned Blacks, Italions. Plus his movies have over the top sex scenes that borderline pornogrpahy. And he really needs to STAY out of his own movies. His best works, Malcolm X, Inside Man and Do the right thing. Even though I did like Summer of Sam. All of Tyler Perry's movies movies I enjoyed to the fullest.

Craig 10/26/2009 | reply
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- Agreed!!!!! 100%
  
  Andrew 10/26/2009 | reply
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I do think it is sad that we as blacks cant support each other. What Tyler has done is create what he has always wanted to do his dreams of doing plays and movies. The same very thing you wanted to pursue your dreams of directing and acting. What makes you the authority on what is proper and what is not. If you had a problem with the shows why didnt you go to him as apposed to trying to slam him publicly. Seems like the crab pot mentality to me.

DWK 10/26/2009 | reply
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I don't like black on black dissing in the media, but I must admit that I cringe whenever a Tyler Perry character appears are on the screen. When you have so few black shows on the air, these stupid, falling down, bug eyed fools are the stereotypes that people remember...and believe! For every "Rock of Love", there are 30 positive shows every day for white folks to see. We don't have that luxury. Until we do, I hope Tyler will turn out more realistic black characters instead of the tired old Buckwheat's that I thought we retired a loooooong time ago.

Jillian Jones 10/26/2009 | reply
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With blacks in america you are damned if you do and damned if you don't, It is not a Spike Lee against Tyler Perry, I feel that what Spike did was ridiculous, you can feel how ever you want, but when you feel you can get up and make such a personal statement, you are wrong. I feel that Spike Lee is racist, who talks about that. What happened to us was wrong yes, slavery was wrong yes, Stop having us live in that hate that we have been seeing, Stop reminding us how we use to be treated and I say use to because we can dictate how some one treat us by education ourselves, and stop using racism for our short comings and putting down each other because we don't feel they are getting the message across the way we won't them to. TV has the same effect on us as a book does some will only read books that keep there attention, and some can read books that are just a bore, and others can read either one. What Spike do is different from what Tyler do and they have the same focus. What Tyler show you is that even in all your hurt, pain, short comings that life gives you, you can still make it and that is what people need now. Spike stop trying to promote your new documentary by putting someone else down. One more thing, the money that Tyler makes he gives back to not only just his community but to others, at least he makes his money and care enough to give to the people.

tb 10/26/2009 | reply
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Spike: Messages & comedy comes in different formats. I love the movies Brother Perry is making. I also laugh at 'Two & A Half Men' & 'My Name Is Earl' but I do not shape my opinion about white people from those shows, nor do I define my family or me from Tyler Perry's shows. As a law school graduate, former State Legislator & newspaper editor & a Black Georgia resident, I find these entertaining and with social messages that my whole experience determines how I will respond. I felt the same way with your 'Mars' character in your first major film. Talk to the Brother face-to-face before you publicly excoriate him.

Jimmie Burke 10/26/2009 | reply
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