need to add title here

Tyler Perry On Criticism

October 22, 2009 11:23 AM

Some don't understand Tyler Perry's work and dismiss it, saying some of his characters are demeaning to African Americans. But Perry responds to the criticism this Sunday on 60 Minutes.

Recent Segments
Scroll Left Scroll Right
Add a Comment See all 24 Comments
by Virgil-1 October 26, 2009 10:29 AM EDT
It won't go away as long as there are people.The majority of people just love to hate.It's because of the fallen nature.This nature is weak with too many flaws.It's going to get worse,not better.
Reply to this comment
by bushcrew October 26, 2009 12:54 AM EDT
Shame on you Spike Lee, you know better. This is what they want, strive and division between us. Total loss of respect for you, don't forget where you came from. I feel Spike Lee comments are hypocritical, take a look at your own movies. Tyler Perry always has a postive message, and Spike you could have handled your views in a positive way. Love ya TP!! Spike don't be a hater.
Reply to this comment
by map98 October 25, 2009 11:31 PM EDT
I just saw the segment about Tyler Perry and once again I had to shake my head. Spike Lee and others criticize Tyler Perry and it just confirms some of our people are our worst enemy. Spike Lee called it buffoonery, someone else said returning us to Amos and Andy. What was so great about Jungle Fever or She got to have it. Dope addicts, ****** and please black men lusting after white women. Black men who came from the fields into the house and now their greatest achievement is a white woman. Well, Mr. Perry, Thank you first for recognizing and displaying and supporting strong black women. Thank you for making movies that show when we return to our roots and keep God first we can make it. I am a 62 year old woman ofcolor and I am very proud of Tyler Perry and I will continue to support him.
Reply to this comment
by Miapam October 25, 2009 8:26 PM EDT
How can any black person criticize Tyler Perry? There is no movie he has produced that does not touch the heart of the black/human community. When my conservative white minister preached a sermon based on the Diary of a Mad Black WOman I had to revisit his work and dissect his deeper message. There is more than entertainment in his movie - there are life lessons. I despise critics that have no reason to criticize but to demean - I guess "She's Got to Have It" was the black social statement of the century. I admire Tyler Perry and I wish him all the success in the world. And yes, I am a black woman raised by a college educated christian mother - I have a J.D. and I'm 60ty. Madea is the box office lure but the message is pure Tyler Perry (the message has no color or race - it is life in its purest form.
Reply to this comment
by Templar_1118 October 25, 2009 8:26 PM EDT
This piece should have been extended to a two parts. There is so much more to this man and his talent than could be captured in just one segment. Too bad Spike Lee can't hold a candle to this man's talent!
Reply to this comment
by letskeepitreal October 25, 2009 8:21 PM EDT
You can not dispute Tyler Perry is a genius!!! I have every move and play on DVD. Their is nothing you can say that will stop any supporter of his films and plays. We have been and will continue to sell out Movie Theaters across the country with record braking box office sales. End of story!!!! ******* Tyler I hope you are reading this. WE LOVE YOU!!!! I AM JUST AS PISSED OFF AS YOU WITH THE COMMENTS SPIKE LEE HAS MADE PUBLIC. Continue your message and let the haters hate.********* The last Spike Lee movie I saw was Do The Right Thing!LOL So what does that tell you?
Reply to this comment
by femia71 October 25, 2009 8:12 PM EDT
I do not agree with Spike Lee and feel that his opinion my not be genuine. We all know he has not been as successful in Hollywood as most and it may be some issues there. Tyler found a creative way to express things he has experienced in life which it appears was not always good. I am a produce of the 70's and grew up in the era of Superfly and The Mac...am sure everybody didn't agree with that type character either but that was an image we had at that time. I'm a christian who enjoys the plays and movies Tyler produces because unlike a lot of other movies, his does have a postive message if you take the time to watch.
Reply to this comment
by fyp6000 October 25, 2009 2:30 PM EDT
Spike Lee is just jealous of Tyler Perry's unprecedented success. Hataz!! Sheesh!!
Reply to this comment
by mt36 October 25, 2009 10:18 AM EDT
I am extremely disappointed in Spike Lee for not being supportive for another African American, film writer, actor, author, producer, director and Renaissance man . He is a maverick who address and ministers to an audience that appreciates, respect and wants more of Mr Tyler Perry. I have lived some of the roles in his plays/movies and wish I had a Madea in my family. Madea is a host of different personalities for some of my family members all rolled up in one. This is not for the uneducated and coonery that is extremely offensive, my family consists of six figure incomes who haven't forgotten.

Tyler Perry can't be compared to any other male artist that has succeeded in encouraging other to hold on it will get better. The actors I will mention will pale in comparison to him and just plain and simple haven"t done what he has. However, I did not hear Spike Lee's opinion on Eddie Murphy, Martin Lawrence, Robin Williams, Dustin Hoffman, John Travolta, Flip Wilson, Shawn and Marlon Wayans. It's not like he's play the roles of Wesley Snipes in To Wong Foo, Jack Lemmon Before night falls or Tony Curtis in Some Like it Hot.

Tyler Perry is a man who found an audience and his audience loves and supports HIM.

Maybe Spike should burn his bridges he really missed the boat on this one!
Reply to this comment
by Katmama October 25, 2009 4:21 AM EDT
That's all fine and well, but we don't need any more tomfoolery than we already have and unfortunately, he continues to feed it. Now, I give credit where credit is due. Some of his movies and messages are very good and we NEED more of that! Just because we have negative stereotypes in our community and there is an audience that wants to see them doesn't make it acceptable! That's like giving an alcoholic drinks just because they like to drink. Not very wise.
Reply to this comment
by den1280 October 25, 2009 12:35 AM EDT
And please stop using the excuse that Hollywood thinks ALL black people act like Madea, or Brown?? that is aloof! As if bias-racial false judgement started this year, please!

Racism and biases in Hollywood did not just start with Madea or Brown being on TV and in film? there is enough biases to go around among all races and certainly Perry did not contribute to the modern day slave cycle or classim war that hollywood has promoted.

Hollywood View or display of :

White America- They display characters that ALL white people are racist, snooty, kkk, wealthy, the head, the real race, or biased-or if its a low budget film .. then they are trailer trash-over weight- out of shape, heroine attics, dirty junk yard man, drunk, - etc.

Black America- Thugs-drug sellers- drug pushers- or users- maids- mames- uncle toms- baby daddy cycle- dysfunctional families, hoes-pimps- helpless- need a hand out, poverty, a slave mentality- violent, lazy wont work-gold diggers-uncivilized-uneducated- light skin against dark skin- house negros- field negros...etc.

Latin America- thug, poor, need a hand out, mocks their language, looked down upon, only chosen to work the dirty jobs- all Latinos are picking beans- all Latinos need a green card- or illegals

Chinese- sale extensions (weave), are involved in communism or in fraudulent gang activity, all Chinese own a Chinese restaurant or nail or beauty salon- all chineese work in sweat shop.

Italians- are all in the mafia- sale pizza- controls the government?..etc.

ALL BIASES VIEWS..............

Stop making excuses for Hollywood, Tyler Perry is not responsible how Hollywood CHOOSES to think and display the races on film- neither is he responsible for their decades of biases and racism! And if the truth be told there is more racism, biases, and judgment within our own community that Hollywood does not need to destroy our image , we are doing a good job of that ourselves.
Reply to this comment
by den1280 October 24, 2009 11:47 PM EDT
Hmm, While I do like some of Spike Lee's brand of entertainment, I strongly dislike his high minded, cynical, and at times hypocritical approach toward other talented minority artists who may have different creative tools or characters to reach their audiences with messages of truth. Spike Lee MUST realize his thoughts or words are not golden, nor is it written in stone. He is NOT "the only brother who is talented enough, wise, and authentic enough to reach the black or minority communities?. This type of attitude brings unnecessary division within our community when this is the time to be repairers of the breech within our nation. The approaches are different but Tyler Perry?s and Spike Lee?s messages and motives are one in the same- and that is to allow their perspective audiences to search for the truth within themselves in their messages on film. I find it very disturbing that spike Lee is hiding behind Barack Obama?s change phenomenon, but yet he has failed to except ?change? himself. Change is change whether it be in entertainment or in Washington- if it is to better our people. Having a new black president does not mean I now need to deny, become senile, or disassociate my self from the reality of ?whose who? in my family ( which by the way has a few madeas, & Mr. brown?s, etc.) whom I have to deal with and love everyday. News FLASH, this characters exist! Furthermore, I am very intelligent and capable to think for myself, and I certainly don?t need anyone to control my senses or style- I know what I want and what I like to see in a particular brand of entertainment. I?m not less black, less intelligent, less knowledgeable of my history or culture, or brainwashed because I choose to enjoy tyler perry?s endeavors or any other film. I am tired of this small group of out of touch black folks looking down on others because they happen to enjoy Martin Lawrence Big Momma, or Tyler Perry?s Madea. So you mean to tell me that A flamboyant Grandmother , or an over the top religious deacon in Mr. brown has set us back 200 years but yet we say nothing when BET or Bravo promotes fatherless homes, dysfuntional families, no marriage, airs black women swinging from bath tub poles damn near naked with rappers teaching our children there lifestyle is acceptable and right if they want to be successful, or shows like I Love NY, Flava Flav, college hill, Housewives of Atlanta, or the thuggish- shoot it up, baby- daddy- baby momma sex stories with strong vulgarity and disrespect? Lee has rubbed shoulders with Eddie Murphy?s Norbit ( in which I thought that film was very stereotypical) but makes a big deal about a ?zealous? granny & uncoath deacon who speaks truth? Give me a break! If we were to flip the script, So it can be said about Spike Lee?s films: every black dude or woman is not a thug, a *****, drug user, a thief, etc. which spike often writes and displays in his films, what then do we say about his work? The point is, each is to his or her own what they like or dislike in entertainment. So stop throwing salt across the table, when you can join forces with Perry to build a stronger entertainment brand that will educate and better our people. Lee, should know when you are great, you don?t have to use your platform to throw rocks at other artists.
Tyler Perry brand of entertainment has its place ( and it is needed to be frank)- He is able to reach an audience that will NEVER see or relate to a Spike Lee Film- Vice Versa- the same can be said about Perry?s work. So all this snooty- high minded labels, childish and jealous beef, and guilt that folks are putting out there in our community, it needs to be SQASHED! Spike I love you but GET a grip!
Reply to this comment
by Katmama October 24, 2009 3:54 PM EDT
I like Tyler Perry and Spike Lee! There is room for both. However, I don't feel that some of the characters that Tyler portrays are appropriate for commercial consumption at this time or ever! I don't think that Spike wants us to deny who we are as a race but instead put our BEST images forward. We have TOO many negative stereotypes already. The majority truly believes that we ALL act like Tyler's characters. We represent a plethora of characters and shouldn't be relegated to just a few. We need a better balance in Hollywood. I wish that we could all work together and stop playing out our battles in public. When we do this, we continue to show the majority just how divided we really are. We can do better.
Reply to this comment
by RAGGEE October 24, 2009 10:00 AM EDT
Spike Lee has been directing movies for a while and suddenly he has seen a young talented,charasmatic,joyfull,humble,caring man behind his rear view mirror on an overdrive.if spike lee was smart enough he would have called perry and asked him how he got succesfull in a short period instead of hate and jealousy uproar hidden in a cultural war between the past and the future.if spike lee wants black folks in america to be different because of the election of president obama he ought to go to his rapper friends and tell them to stop using the n & b words they often use it in rap culture that spike has always and still supports.for tyler perry,i hope you be more succesfull.
Reply to this comment
by benny_boyo October 23, 2009 3:25 PM EDT
Why is 60 Minutes now in the practise of combining new and old segments? I thought we were now in the midst of a new Fall season and they were now supposed to be presenting all new content. I saw this Tyler Perry segment last season...YAWN!!!!
Reply to this comment
by DivaGal October 23, 2009 8:22 AM EDT
Spike Lee has his method of bringing about awareness in many of his films. Tyler Perry has his method of bringing about healing through laughter and sometimes counsel in his films. In my opinion, Spike should not have stated those remarks, and he should respect Tyler's work. Both men have inspired multitudes through their works. Tyler Perry's films, plays and tv shows are funny; inspiring; educational; thought-provoking; invoking self awareness; and most importantly HEALING to MANY hurt and downtrotten souls. In this day and time, those things are exactly what we need. What we do not need is so much value on image that we lose sight of the cause. Worrying so much about how others will view you that you lose sight of who you are and why you are here. Spike Lee, deal a little deeper into Tyler Perry's work and I'm confident that you will find great value in it. Maybe it will require you to humble yourself and remember a time in your life when you could relate to everyday people. Nevertheless, I'm sure that man still exists in you, so I'm confident that on some level you will be able to relate. Keep doing the remarkable work that you do Tyler Perry! There is healing in laughter and tears. Keep doing the great work that you do Spike Lee! Exposure sometimes leads to justice and at the very least awareness.

My mother taught me a very basic but important lesson, and it was to 'uplift and don't tear down'. While she used both methods of the lesson throughout my upbringing (lifted me up and tore me down), I know for a fact which one inspired me the most -- the uplift. My point is that we need not tear each other down, but we need to continuously inpire and uplift each other.
Reply to this comment
by HeavyDennis October 23, 2009 12:47 AM EDT
We all need to get a grip...there are too many more important things to be concerned about. We all can say something negative about anything or anyone.
We have to see beneath the surface.
Reply to this comment
by cynthadwms October 22, 2009 11:38 PM EDT
I love everything Tyler Perry produces. Yes, it is comical but has a potent message for us all. Stop looking through biased views and listen to the messages. You might learn something about yourself.
Reply to this comment
by wardead October 22, 2009 10:37 PM EDT
tyler perry is house ngger plain and simple what is up with him dressing up as women in every damm movie he makes is he gay does he want to be a women, i am also noticing more black men dressing up as women like evander holifield in some stupid commercial. yes i agree with spike
Reply to this comment
by rstew4724 October 22, 2009 6:44 PM EDT
I would be one of the first to criticize degrading material of the Blacks, but I see nothing wrong with Madea nor Mr. Brown. We have those people in our history and in our present, and I think if we try and overlook that or look in another direction then we are going back, because we are denying who we are. We can laugh at other nationalities, but we have no sense of humor when it comes to us.
Reply to this comment
See all 24 Comments
  • 60 Minutes, 11.22.09 60 Minutes, 11.22.09

    43:21 November 22, 2009

  • James Cameron's Avatar James Cameron's Avatar

    12:43 November 22, 2009

  • Maziar Bahari: Witness Maziar Bahari: Witness

    11:53 November 22, 2009

  • The Cost of Dying The Cost of Dying

    14:07 November 22, 2009

  • Web Extra: At Home, At Peace Web Extra: At Home, At Peace

    1:38 November 22, 2009

  • Web Extra: Comfort and Costs Web Extra: Comfort and Costs

    1:51 November 22, 2009