Tyler Perry Makes Up for His Remarks about Spike Lee

July 19, 2011 By Staff 35 Comments

Apparently Spike Lee has been doing some not-so-positive talking about Tyler Perry and his films. After getting fed up earlier this year, Perry said during a press conference that ”Spike can go right to hell and all ya’ll can print that. I am sick of him talking about me.” Having thought things through differently, Perry told Ebony magazine that he “forgot the man has kids.”

Perry proceeded to share with Ebony that there was no need for there to be a dispute between him and Lee over the film industry. He added, “I’m gonna be more respectful of him and his family. I believe Spike can do what he does and I can do what I do. We both have a voice and very different experiences in life. There’s room for more than one of us in every industry, and the moment we embrace that as a society, we can get past all this stuff.” According to reports, Lee did not respond to Perry’s comments.

Actor Clifton Powell took to Tyler’s defense, stating that he would “beat Spike’s a**” for talking about Tyler Perry. While there are those who feel that Tyler Perry’s films engage in some degree of buffoonery, there are those who respect him for creating jobs in the industry. Dr. Boyce Watkins wrote about the feud earlier this year, stating that Spike should be more respectful in his critique of Perry.

Ayvaunn Penn is a spoken word artistand an award winning writer completing her degree in English and philosophy. For more of her witty-word works click here. To have your original poetry featured by Ms. Penn on Your Black Poets, click here.

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Filed Under: Black News, Entertainment, Featured Tagged With: black celebrities, spike lee, tyler perry

Jaytron

fuck tyler perry

Goldie G

Ignorant buffoon, how many jobs have you and the other critics along with Spike created lately. There are creative people of all kinds and they produce many types of work. Are they attacking each other ? There is room for everyone. One more reason we can’t come together. Obviously Spike is jealous of Tylers success and that is why he chose to attack his work in the first place. His reminds me of Cornell and Tavis. Grow up

Ilovetylerperrymovies

That’s so true. Black people insult each other’s work all the time. That’s why we can’t seem to get our people out of poverty. I wonder how many of his critics tap dance for the opposite race. Lol If they are insulting Tyler’s movies, then apparently they don’t know a thing about really being black in this screwed up world. His movies ain’t nothing but the truth. Oops, let me correct that. His movies are not anything but the truth. I don’t want to sound too buffoonish.

Beverly

When people speak harsh of another person, what good does that do, it just show, who they are, when showing lack of respect that doesn’t say much about the individual who is doing the talking, what it does say why are you jealous?, just get out and do your own project instead of talking about someone else work. Put that passion in your own work. Therefore you will not have the time or energy to say negative things about what someone else is doing.
David2001

I agree with everything Spike Lee had to say about him. Besides his buffoonery in many of his films AND TV shows Tyler Perry feeds into some of the worst stereotypes of black men. His audiences are mainly black females and whites so I guess he’s pandering to them. For those who say we shouldn’t criticize why not? We spend enough time criticizing whites for their racist portrayals of us in the media why not criticize the likes of people like Perry who do the same.

Altha Cutright

Jealousy will get you NOTHING in this life.

http://www.facebook.com/people/Audrey-F-Liggins/100000898009838 Audrey F Liggins

Um, wow.

A mature community would have room for ALL types of creativity, not just “message” work. This is not to mention that, in all truth and for anyone who looks at his work critically and truthfully, Mr. Perry’s works ALL have a message that pertains not only to Black relationships, but the Black community as a whole. Mr. Lee should have kept his mouth shut if he could not say something more constructive about Tyler Perry. His continued use of inflammatory language when speaking his mind is in large part what keeps this type of discussion open for people outside the community to engage in.

That said, I have to applaud Mr. Perry for having the presence of mind to remember that there is a better way to get one’s message across when responding to harsh criticism. This is something that we, as a community, need to learn and teach.

Altha Cutright

I applaud Mr. Perrry for giving so many Black people jobs. Mr Lee is very ENVY of Mr Perry and that makes life bad for Mr. Lee.

Dhicks1962

I think they should both stop speaking badly of each other and do some work together…I am a Spike Lee fan, and I am also a Tyler Perry fan…Both guys have come into different times in my life…I think they should do some work together…Give more black people in the industry some jobs…Come on guys, I love you both, can we work it out…Spike, get down there to Tyler’s studios and do some stuff…Tyler let Spike into the studio so he can do some stuff…Put it on t.v. or in a movie so I can watch…Have a blessed life men…

Altha Cutright

This is what Spike Lee want from Mr. Perry to work together but he is going at this in the wrong way.
Altha Cutright

This is what Spike Lee want from Mr. Perry to work together but he is going at this in the wrong way.

nicole32

i agree with beverly
Diamonds

Now just for being ignorant just maybe Clifton Powell someone will beat the $hit out of you. I’m just saying and we wonder why the youth of today are so voilent we have ignorant old folks talking about beating someone down… I’m glad Tyler came to his damn sense. The both line he must have read my post that exactly what I said and if those two were true professional they would do a great movie together… And next time pay attention Spike said one thing about your movies.. It was all about those corny TV programming.

Butterflyhabibi

THANK YOU!!! And isn’t clifton powell supposed to be a minister? Just goes to show how our so called leaders are just leading the feeble-minded astray in God’s name. They all are playing right into the systems game of divide and conquer. I say ‘the system’ because it’s not just the white man keeping us down anymore. It’s progressed into a machine run by many men of many different backgrounds….Hmmm maybe we should call “him” the green man, cause the love of money is the root of all of this.

Afrotapp

I think you are mixing up clifton davis with Clifton Powell. In terms of Spike, I guess everyone forgot about some of the critique he received for some of his first movies(explicit, some of the tricks used, violent, marginalized the women). Tyler’s movies, plays, and tv shows have a message and its entertaining. Spike just has message in most cases in terms of mass marketing. Rather than coming after Tyler he should have put him in charge of marketing his movies then maybe he could make some real money.

S. T.

Each person brings to the film industry their viewpoint, background and experiences. Neither Mr. Perry nor Mr. Lee are trying to insult blacks. They are both giving us what we need more of, I.e. a voice in the industry. There are so few of us, why would we start bickering. The solution is to help get more blacks into the media/film industry to create through their viewpoint. There is so much of this negativity going around: black film makers, black politicians, black leaders and personalities, all at each others throats because they see things differently. They don’t even know how to disagree intelligently. I even see this in the school system: mothers coming in cussing out the teachers and principals, right in front of their kids. No wonder black youth have no respect for themselves or anybody else?
Nassatall

“Some degree of buffoonery” ??? more like an Exponential degree of buffonery…

Ilovetylerperrymovies

People hate on Tyler because they feel naked when they watch one of his films. Most of his haters are males; specifically black males. Now go and view one of his films and find out why they really hate. Does he not expose their undercover ways in his films? I’m pretty sure they hate that. Nobody likes the truth when it’s in regards to their own behavior. I’ve watched Shanay Nay and Wanda who are very buffoonish, and no one said a word in regards to that. I guess its ok because you know; we’re just talking about the black girl who the media has gimmicked for years along with the help of some black sophisticated males. Things that make you go hmmm.

nassatall

martin plays other roles, jamie plays other roles. tyler is 100% buffoon 100% of the time..i dont know about these insecure downlow dudes but Tyler depicts buffoonery in all his work allllll the time and it is unhealthy for the black american atmosphere. also Tyler is probably just as downlow as all the dudes he portrays in his films, you know speaking from his own experience would allow him to have the best perspective on such issues… <–things that make you go hmmm
1eyedsnake

I was introduced to the Tyler Perry videos of his plays long before he blew up. I had a problem with him then. I recognized the talent; but I have a problem with a black man in a dress and the Madea character in particular.

I was shown his videos by a former girlfriend who might have become more than my girlfriend had she not had the desire to wear the pants both literally and figuratively in the relationship–not to mention the very troubling fact that she seemed to have inside information on the problems I was having with white people on the job.

Altha Cutright

What does that make you? if you allow your girlfriend to wear the pants. Mr Perry videos have nothing to do with how you live your life i’m sure you know RIGHT from WRONG.

1eyedsnake

You do understand what former means, don’t you?

All of these movies and videos and commercials have an effect of how people think–especially people who have been trained not o use their minds.

ButterflyhabibI

Nice comment and example of how far we have come from clifton powell (sarcasm)…isn’t he supposed to be some kind of minister? …He really should sit his old arse down somewhere….

Solomon1991

butterflyhabibi must be a black woman thats the way they talk.

S. T.

I’ve noticed that every brother, I know, who hates certain Tyler Perry films that portray the pain of black women, LOVED Flavor Flav. I’m just saying…
1eyedsnake

I feel bad for black women. The system has done and is doing a fantastic con job on them. I have two sisters that hate black men and think all black men are dogs and no good; but then they see me–a contradiction to all they believe.
asil

Not understanding all the negativity about Mr Tyler Perry. Clearly he is successful and has a solid fanbase. There is enough room for Spike, Tyler, Singleton, the Hughes Brothers, the Akils, just to name a few. If we could just come together and acknowledge that we can agree to disagree everyone would be better off. Use all that negative energy and put a positive spin on it. There is room for everyone.
MelaninEnriched

I feel that both were out of line. Spike Lee was out of line for starting it, though. How can we expect solidarity and to expect others to take us seriously if we can’t even keep our negative comments to ourselves? There aren’t many black directors in Hollywood, so even if Spike didn’t like Tyler Perry, fine, just keep it to yourself and keep making your films. Yes, Tyler Perry CAN let the buffoonery go now and he’s made enough money to where he can start incorporating better content into his films, so he should try to transition into that. I personally feel that Spike Lee is just bitter/jealous that Tyler Perry has been able to build such an empire in such a short period of time, while he’s been toiling all these years and still is in roughly the same spot with trying to get his movies made. If anything, he should join forces with Tyler Perry in some fashion and perhaps take a few pages from his book so that he’ll be even more successful. There’s enough room for everyone, but until black people get it together and stop hatin’ and talking about one another, we’ll never come up to the level that we need to as a whole.
Rodney Derrick

We’ve had comedians, black comedians who have made us laugh and cry and happy all of our lives, and to call them buffoons for that is wrong. Tyler Perry doesn’t have an obligation to us or anybody else to make movies that inspire us to think, and he shouldn’t be criticized for making us laugh either. Even so, at the same time, I hope that everybody with the ability to read what I’m saying has at least started on a story, even if it’s a crappy story. And every night, when the kids are in bed and all the chores are done around the house, that you continue to work on that piece of literature. It’s your story. It’s your contribution to the world. See, I went to the bookstore the other day, and the African-American literature section isn’t big enough because you haven’t told the world your story. We’re waiting. We’re all waiting for that story you have in your heart. So, instead of spending our time crying that we don’t have enough African-American literature that makes us think in our grasp, remember, it’s because you haven’t written it yet.
Lgthomas7

Its ok when other races produce and direct buffonery? but not black? the world has done and still doing this to us. They don’t even hire us and Tyler does hire us.

Tyler’s work is closer to the truth since the Harlem Renaissance. Stop black on black fights and produce and write with our free time. You are the first man, know who you are.

Lodi, NJ

The problem is 90% of our black entertainment is buffoonery and we’ve been portrayed by others as minstrels, entertainers and clowns since we got here. From vaudeville to gangsta rap and black comedies, we’ve seen our share of slapstick nonsense. It’s too the point where whenever there’s a black character in a non-black movie, we’re surprised when they don’t end up being the comic relief. We’ve come to be seen as entertainment instead of a serious and civilized culture. Even black romantic comedies are promoted like slapstick comedy.

My suggestion to Perry is to leave out all the silly slapstick characters like Madea and Mr. Brown and create a little more mystery and imagination in your movies. Make the audience work a little more. I don’t think I’ve ever watched any of his movies more than once. They’re just too simplistic and not very creative.

My suggestion to Lee is to keep making quality movies like Inside Man (if they ever let you) but learn when to keep your mouth shut. All of those personal attacks against the industry, white directors and Perry have resulted in bad karma and backlash. He can’t even get funding for his movies anymore. Hollywood is not an equal opportunity employer. They will blacklist your @ss.

http://www.facebook.com/people/Iris-Boyd/611306703 Iris Boyd

It’s great that Tyler walked back what he said about Spike out of respect for his family. That speaks volumes about Perry’s character. However, I think there is a some envy going on Spike’s part because of Tyler’s success. Instead of congratulating Tyler, Spike denigrates Tyler’s work and reduces it to mere buffoonery. Spike probably have never seen any of Tyler’s work.
1eyedsnake

The bottom line is this. We are in a war–a war we are losing. We are 100% dependent on the good will of white people. Half of the white people would just kill us if they could.

As soon as the other white people reach the conclusion that we are worthless and a waste of resources we are gonna be outta here just like the indians.

I am plotting my exit strategy. Good night, and good luck to those of you who are stuck here.
Marcusdavis40

Personally i ,m more into spike lee’s body of work as opposed to tyler perrys .I understand where
spike lee is coming from in terms of the buffoonery comments ,i watched his last movie ‘miracle at st anns its a bloody master piece but it did,nt get the recognition it deserved .Plus i think with spike lee’s movies you’re required to think more i love the topics he tackles in his movies.Lets not forget also when spike came out with his movies then all other black movie makers started springing up out of the woodwork after him .
Lamar Johnson

I notice the comments on here are like this.The woman are for tyler perry and the men are on the side of Spike Lee.Black women are on the side of perry because they sympathize with the negative stereotypes of black men( dead beat dads,thugs,etc.)The men are mad at perry for not shining light on the black men that are positive.The coonery and bafoonery has touched every corner of planet earth.Black folks don’t seem to get that perception is everything especially in Asia.The black man is thought of as a burden to america and even to the black woman.