Tyler Perry Calls Black People Racist for Criticizing ‘Too Close to Home’

According to Page Six, Tyler Perry thinks it’s reverse racism for black people to criticize his white television show.

Page Six writes:

Tyler Perry is known for creating opportunities for black actors. But recently the African-American filmmaker weathered a backlash for assembling an all-white starring cast for the TLC drama series “Too Close to Home.”

Perry rejects the criticism, much of it on social media. Some questioned his casting choices, with one calling the show an “all time low” for the producer when the series aired this year.

But by the end of the season, those harsh words turned mostly into praise of the series.

“That’s totally reverse racism, because it was coming from African-American people,” said Perry, speaking with The Associated Press in his office at Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta.

“I don’t know if it was because they thought I should only be giving jobs to black people. Well, I think that’s ridiculous. If you look at the hundreds of black people I’ve given jobs to and even the ones I’ve made millionaires, people of color, I just think it’s unfair.”

These days, the 47-year-old Perry is more color-blind than ever. He said his years traveling the globe and interacting with people of varying cultures while working his ventures including his “Madea” stage play production tours have helped him see things through a different lens.

“I’m just finding out more as I travel the country and world, the more I meet people, we’re all the same,” he said.

“We all got the same dramas. So I’m not seeing color as much as I did anymore in the sense of our stories. Our stories are so similar.”

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9 comments

  1. It’s like people like Tyler get their start on the backs of black people and then throw us under the bus after they make it. It’s really sad.

  2. I guess he feels like he’s at the point of his career where he can talk down to black folks and still stay successful. He better hope he’s right.

  3. What a reach. But I don’t care either way because it’s not like I watch anything he makes anyway. LOL.

  4. I think he’s just refusing to hear people out. If you made the bulk of your career about catering to black people because you saw a diversity issue and wanted to make things better, you can’t get in your feelings if black people call you out when you abandon that purpose. It just makes him look like an opportunist to be honest.

  5. I’m not sure if it’s a sign of the times or just a heavy influence from social media, but interviews are not the way I remember them. These days, they cause more drama and conflict than anything else, which really makes me wish people would do away with interviews altogether. There’s a way to advocate for what you believe in without downing a group of people who have supported you. I personally don’t care about him having a show with an all-white cast, but to refer to Blacks as hypocrites on a public platform. Come on…

    These people must have forgotten that they owe no man nothing – certainly not an explanation. Do your shows and stfu. Those who will support, will – and those who won’t, won’t. Basic math.

    1. Agreed… no matter what anyone says it seems they are going to get dragged and it seems as if all interviews are set up to make at least one demographic pissed off

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