Director/playwright Tyler Perry let his Madea side show on this upcoming Sunday’s edition of CBS 60 Minutes.
Tyler was reacting to director Spike Lee’s criticism of his coonish characters, who Lee calls “racial stereotypes.” Tyler counters that his characters are “bait - disarming, charming make you laugh, bait.”
Tyler argues that he uses his disarming bait to draw in whites who normally don’t know that these types of black people exist. At least I think that’s what he meant.
Tyler goes on to say, “I can slap Madea in something and talk about God, love, Faith, forgiveness, family,” all the qualitiess that Tyler feels whites should love about us, but they don’t know about unless he uses coons or some other stereotype to draw them in.
Sort of like what Chris Rock did with his documentary “Good Hair” to get white people into the theaters. By the way, “Good Hair” bombed at the box office.
Then Tyler loses track of the point he’s trying to make (maybe because it sounds so ludicrous?) so he goes on the attack, “That pisses me off!” he snaps. He tries to take another stab at making sense out of his response to what he knows is valid criticism.
He accuses his critics (Hollywood) of not making enough movies with coonish characters who speak to us.
Got that?
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Sandra you know good and dam well Chris Rock did that movie not Christ Tucker
i know you meant Chris Rock….Tyler….no words.
YET.
Can’t we all just get a long. This man has made something out of nothing. He literally toured inner cities doing plays and look where it got him. Glory to GOD!!! I love me some Madea. Most young folks don’t have role models or grandparents with that kind of wisdom.
Chris Tucker?….lets be factual
Thank God for Tyler Perry!!! He’s keeping a lot of black Hollywood stars employed when most white folks who got power in Hollywood won’t even give ‘em the time of day much less a role in a movie!
I will not lie I get chris rock and chris tuckers names mix up(only when i’m referring to a movie role)but I know she did that on purpose.
On to Mr.Tyler Perry I only like 3 movies he did Why did I get married?, Diary of a Mad black woman and Family Reunion and his plays are better than his movies.But his movies are getting a little monotonous but he is making plenty money so I can’t throw to much shade his way.But I do think he should expand his movies and do something gritty or unexpected but with a message in which both blacks and whites can relate to.
Spike Lee, needs to go sit down somewhere and admire his oscars. Every movie doesn’t have to be a militant political statement.The truth is we all know someone who reminds us of Madea.
Do white people get all riled up at movies like Vernon goes to Jail or Bill and Ted or Wanes World worrying that people will think thats the only type of white people there are?
In order to truly love and understand you must accept everything warts and all. Its called honesty. People INCUDING BLACK PEOPLE are not perfect. So why would every black character in the media need to be.
And if white people don’t know these types of people exist why would that be a could tool to get them to see the movie? I don’t get that.
Secondly I don’t believe Christ Rock or Tyler Perry made those movies for white people. I believe they want them to see thier movies but I think they MADE THEM FOR BLACK PEOPLE.
i forget the interviewers name, but he used to work for a news station here in atlanta. tyler would love to read that to his fan base. tyler, you ignore the hell outta ur fan base so please stop it. whats worse, and ive heard this too many times to NOT believe it; extras on ur set CAN NOT speak to you AT ALL. He’s mr. perry to employees.
I think about when i come into the office, even the damn CEO riding the elevator is addressed by first name. You’ve created this ‘man walking on water’ atmosphere. We’re not pleased with your work. Your tenacity is applauded, but at what cost are you “making it happen?”
Spike Lee has gone on record to say what so many of us complain or comment about in our daily lives. If he actually interacted with the outside world, he’d know that black people as a whole is tired of the sh!t he produces. It is a disgrace. It is embarrassing.
***are tired…
think i need to edit before i post comments. geesh point.
pointhimout Says:
Spike Lee has gone on record to say what so many of us complain or comment about in our daily lives. If he actually interacted with the outside world, he’d know that black people as a whole is tired of the sh!t he produces. It is a disgrace. It is embarrassing.
********************************************
Tyler perry found his niche (sp).
He does deliver positive messages in his films, (sometimes the same message repeatedly), but positive nonetheless.
I remember back in the day when Spike released his stream of NY character based movies, he had critics all over him because of his characters too.
What would Bill Cosby (Cosby Show) say to that?!?!
While I give respect to Tyler Perry for his success, I agree about his coonish characters. Not as much in his movies, as in his stupid ass TV shows … which no one watches. House of Payne and Meet the Browns made no sense at his level of success. And, they are embarrassing…at least to me.
I can see it when he was first starting out, but now he should have moved on.
BTW, I didn’t watch the clip.
Good Hair is being showed in limited theatres. Last week when it first came out, it wasnt playing anywhere in the SF Bay Area - NO WHERE, the closest place was Bakersfield. I now see it’s show at 4 theatres 1 in SF, 1 in Emeryville, 1 in San Leandro and I think 1 in Richmond. None of these places are located near each other.
So how could it bomb if it’s not being shown in multiple theares in just 1 city?
Lmao @ Chris Tucker.. Ahhh Sandra you never fail.
@ topic. I don’t do Tyler Perry movies anymore. I don’t know what he’s talking about. His movies show abuse of women, is that the image he wants yt to see about our race? And PLEASE lets not get started on the COONVISION show he has on.
I can’t even watch the previews without wanting to say YES SIR.
My S/O refuses to go his movies. He pointed out the way Tyler always shyts on white collar black men while uplifting the blue collar (I’m sure you know what side of the collar he falls).
@point - I see your point too
Tyler may have a theme of positivity, but we HAVE been seeing these characters from the stages plays all the way through to the movie phase, and I can see where it looks like we always have something dysfunctional going on. It’s like that SOMETIMES, but not ALL of the time.
wiggy2272003 Says:
Spike Lee, needs to go sit down somewhere and admire his oscars. Every movie doesn’t have to be a militant political statement.The truth is we all know someone who reminds us of Madea.
Do white people get all riled up at movies like Vernon goes to Jail or Bill and Ted or Wanes World worrying that people will think thats the only type of white people there are?
~~~~~~
LOL. In this time in our economy ppl don’t always want to see a deep movie or one that makes you think. We go to the movies to get away from our problems and that’s why Tyler continues to make the movies that he does, it’s working for him all the way to the bank.
Off Topic: Does anyone watch Flashforward. I was hooked from day one. The hour goes by so fast I wish they would have two hours.
I don’t see nothing wrong with his show House of Payne(they introduced me to Lance Gross and all his fineness*two thumbs up*)
But Meet the Browns i’ll say that show is a hot mess.
So you are saying it is okay when Steve Martin and Will Ferrell makes stupid a** movies but when Tyler gives us something to make life a little bit funnier he is opressing us. Please get real people want it the way they want it, Tyler you cant please everybody. Make the money and give back so they will shut up.
I must say that i’m done w/ the Tyler Perry movies. The first few and the plays i was with….but umm…..yeaa…..enough. He needs to do somthing new. Its the same ish. And portrays the same ish.
To piggy-back OFF @ontaya brooks comment …
I DON’T watch Tyler Perry movies and it has nothing to do with Spike Lee, They just don’t interest me AT ALL
NOW I have a host of relatives that LUV THEM some Tyler Perry Sooooooooo to each his/her own in that regard
@ Starr
I think it all has a place…..while I’m personally a lil bored w/ TP you can’t deny his movies ALWAYS get that top spot….so even if most of us on here ain’t feelin’ him….clearly thousands of ppl are. TP has a play coming to the Bay in January….but I’m not going. The last stage play of his that I saw had Allen Payne in it….and all the singing thru me off from the plot of the play!
I like Spike….but honestly I think he’s a lil jealous that TP has the spot he once held as “THEE” go-to African American director. His last few projects didn’t do so well…..don’t be mad Twan….
@tryna Spike has never been the go to Director in Hollywood
I love me some Spike Lee and I dont think he is saying Tyler has to do the same kind of movies he does.
I enjoy both Spike Lee and some of Tylers movies BUT I am tired of the same ole storyline, characters and plot Tyler. I didnt go see I can do bad by myself but I will go see Why Did I get married Part II.
I like that Spike SPEAKS HIS MIND right, wrong or indifferent and he ALWAYS has no matter what HOLLYWOOD says.
Isc I have freinds and fam that refuse to support Tyler some never have and some stopped cause they were tired of the chitlin circuit plays/movies lol
Spike Lee calling a Tyler Perry kettle black when his ass did the same ****
!!!
I embrace Tyler and his movies!!! Keep them coming!!!
LOVE HIS MOVIES-I COULD CARE LESS WHAT OTHER’S THINK
I WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT TYLER PERRY-HE’S MOVIES HAVE ALWAYS HAS A MESSAGE FOR EVERYONE AND THE CHARACTERS ARE HILARIOUS AND 9 TIMES OUT OF 10 WE HAVE A FAMILY MEMBER OR WE OURSELVES CAN RELATE PERSONALLY TO THE CHARACTERS IN HIS MOVIES
Team Tyler! Keep getting your money Tyler.
As sone of the earlier comments has said, he employees black actors who would NEVER be casted in a hollywood movie (including Spike’s), some people CAN relate to Madea or Brown, Joe or whoever because they remind you of someone in their family (and Spike’s too, that’s why he’s mad).
Was Buggin Out, Radio Raheem, the Mayor NOT sterotypical characters?
Now, Tyler lost me after Madea goes to Jail but I will be going to see Why Did I Get Married 2. He still has a huge fanbase with movies debuted a #1. If he didn’t, would Spike even care?
Daisy Says:
@tryna Spike has never been the go to Director in Hollywood
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I never hang around along enough to see replies, but always come back. In the 80’s Spike was the go-to AA director…..can you name another one?????????
[…] responded via a 60 minutes interview where he was visibly upset about the comment and stated that he uses the characters as […]