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Spike Lee blasts Tyler Perry
Published by Clay Cane on Monday, June 1, 2009 at 6:00 am.
The controversial Spike Lee is at it again — the legendary filmmaker is known for feuds with 50 Cent, Clint Eastwood and Tyler Perry might be next.
What’s strange is that during the press for Inside Man in 2006, Mr. Lee spoke highly of Tyler Perry. Maybe after Meet The Browns and House of Payne, Spike has a different perspective. Now, Lee says Perry’s films and television shows are a minstrel show. Perry has experienced this criticism before, but never from a fellow celebrity in the film world. Here is what the Do The Right Thing director told Ed Gordon on Our World with Black Enterprise, which aired this weekend:
“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?”
Spike continues…
“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.”"
Well, I know some folks might be angered by Spike’s comments, but he is a cinematic legend and has paved the way for someone like Tyler Perry. Therefore, if he has fair social critiques about his cohorts I think we should all take the time to listen, especially Black consumers.
Are you offended by Spike Lee’s comments?
Spike Lee’s comments come from a place of jealousy only. His films were about separating the black community and creating discord so that people would talk about them due to controversy, not because they were really good. Tyler Perry, on the other hand, is all about the dynamics of the black family.
Spike Lee tries to guilt blacks into coming to see his poorly done movies and encouraging them to take off work so that he could have more money to go see his games. Did he care about blacks possibly losing their jobs by doing so? NO, he only cares about himself!
If he really cares about the black community and how we are being portrayed, has he set up a school or mentoring program that promotes the next black writer, producer, etc.? What has Spike Lee done to give back to the black community at all? He is a Leach and if anyone should “wake up” it should be Spike Lee!
Why did Spike choose Mr. Perry instead of the constant buffoonery of the Wayans family? Is it because Spike wishes to be where Tyler is?
Spike Lee, take your ugly, cricket looking a** somewhere and stop trying to make a name for yourself at the expense of the true talents of the world. Would you like Tyler to roll people down the street on that tired rail setup that you use in so many of your movies. Man, please. Get a life!
Tyler Perry, keep doing you! Much love!
Spike Lee’s comments come from a place of jealousy only. His films were about separating the black community and creating discord so that people would talk about them due to controversy, not because they were really good. Tyler Perry, on the other hand, is all about the dynamics of the black family.
Spike Lee tries to guilt blacks into coming to see his poorly done movies and encouraging them to take off work so that he could have more money to go see his games. Did he care about blacks possibly losing their jobs by doing so? NO, he only cares about himself!
If he really cares about the black community and how we are being portrayed, has he set up a school or mentoring program that promotes the next black writer, producer, etc.? What has Spike Lee done to give back to the black community at all? He is a Leach and if anyone should “wake up” it should be Spike Lee!
Why did Spike choose Mr. Perry instead of the constant buffoonery of the Wayans family? Is it because Spike wishes to be where Tyler is?
Spike Lee, take your ugly, cricket looking a** somewhere and stop trying to make a name for yourself at the expense of the true talents of the world. Would you like Tyler to roll people down the street on that tired rail setup that you use in so many of your movies. Man, please. Get a life!
Tyler Perry, keep doing you! Much love!
HEY HATERS…HEY HATER!!!!…TYLER PERRY KEEP DOING WHAT U DO. MAKE THAT $$ BABY!! PEOPLE GONNA HATE NO MATTER WHAT U DO!!
spike lees’s films are nothing like Tyler Perry’s. Tyler Perry’s films are more inspirational and spike lee’s films are more educational and controversial dealing with social issues more than entertainment. Spike Lee has broken down racial barriers and walls in Hollywood, so i can’t hate him for that. Spike Lee has paved the way for black Filmmakers. As a film student, Spike does have a point, some of Tyler Perry’s stuff is just awful, dont get me wrong, i am a fan, but the house of payne is terrible, some of his stuff is slapstick comedy. I wish there comes a day where everything black doesnt have to be slapstick comedy. Spike Lee has a point, i mean i am proud of Tyler perry, but we can do alot better, the house of payne takes us all the way back to Good Times!!
spike lee does have a point, i like tyler perry, but his stuff is a bit sterotypical. as a film student i respect both men, but spike lee has paved the way for african americans in the cinema and tyler perrys stuff, some of it is terrible, his show the house of payne is like good times and it is horrible. Everything that is black doesnt have to funny, we can cry and alot of stories are still not being told, hopefully Tyler can improve!!
spike lee does have a point, i like tyler perry, but his stuff is a bit sterotypical. as a film student i respect both men, but spike lee has paved the way for african americans in the cinema and tyler perrys stuff, some of it is terrible, his show the house of payne is like good times and it is horrible. Everything that is black doesnt have to funny, we can cry and alot of stories are still not being told, hopefully Tyler can improve!!
spike lee does have a point, i like tyler perry, but his stuff is a bit sterotypical. as a film student i respect both men, but spike lee has paved the way for african americans in the cinema and tyler perrys stuff, some of it is terrible,
spike lee is amazing, and tyler perry is too, again i agree with spike, but i like tyler perry, but black filmmakers need do need to build each other up. i am an aspiring black actor and one day just one day i will have to eventually audition for spike and tyler, because really there are the only few black directors that keep blacks employed, but spike can be arrogant and cocky, miracle at st anna was a flop, pure pure flop, he made need tyler to fund his films in the future, so dont get to cocky, mr. lee!!
miracle at st anna, nobody saw it tanked, madea goes to jail, 90 million dollars, it always proves that black comedies always pull over than black dramas. the list goes on and on the great debaters, only a moderate success. black people we need to wake up and stand up. i like tyler perry, but come on now, everthing doesn’t have to be funny, thats all im saying. his show the house of payne is awful, its worse than good times, lol!! and his stageplays have gone down in terms of quailty. I like tyler perry, but we can do better. I mean why did i get married, a family that preys and daddys little girls were amazing, but he can still do better. but much success more to tyler and mr. spike lee!!
I don’t think Spike is criticizing Tyler Perry but the fact that in 2009 the only shows that get mainstream support are those that show our people in somewhat less than elegant way. we are a vast people and more than these caricitures we have love and pain and stories that transcend race. We need representation in all these areas not jus bafoonery!
As long as Tyler Perry keep making movies and shows, I will continue to buy and watch them. You can watch whatever you like Spike so keep watching your own boring movies. I do not own not one and never will!
I must first say we are all entitled to our opinion. But I do think it was very ignorant for Spike to criticize another black man of power on tv. I think of the work that Tyler Perry has put out. Though some of it may be over the edge. I still think that we should support one another. Since Spike is such a legend then why doesn’t he reach out to Perry and maybe share some insight with him. Of course not, he is filled with a little thing called jealousy. That is the problem with black people. White people have always been critical of Perry’s work. However, with the support of the black leaders he has held his ground. Now of course, we finally have an idiot to back up the white community. So I think that the comments were very ignorant and filled with a little jealousy. Oh yeah, I am entitled to my opinion as well Spike. You are a complete idiot for the way you handled the situation.
the only good things tyler perry ever did was Diary and some of his first stage plays. everything else is crap. i’m not offended by spike lee at all. most all of what he said is true. perry just has good advertisement and its bringing in bank.
I am not offended by Spike Lee’s statement I applaud him. I think Tyler Perry is a wonderful writer but I feel his television sitcoms are not real life situations. Meet the Brown is so over the top that it is not funny and House of Payne for the one time I have seen it is not that realistic either. I will be the first to say that I enjoy comedy but these shows are a little to much all the time. I will say I don’t like the Madea character but I do like the ones he has made without her.
I must refer you to a comment I made in March of 2006 on NYTimes.com. I have been waiting to hear from someone of the stature of Mr. Lee to speak on Mr. Perry’s work for a very long time. I’m a bit perplexed about the upcoming collaboration Perry has with Oprah. Scary stuff…
” MOST HELPFUL READER REVIEW
We’ve come full circle, March 30, 2006
Reviewer: mombee4710
So now that we’ve struggled hard and long to gain some semblance of respect in the media and the insistence on the telling of our stories with us as three-dimensional human beings, it would seem that some of us just “can’t stand the prosperity!” Bring back the minstrel shows! Only Toms, Coons, Sambos and Mammies need apply! There are no redeeming qualities in Tyler Perry’s latest production other than to those participants who managed to draw a check. I find it very heart-wrenching that we, as a people, are so starving to see our images on the silver screen that we would accept such dreck! How sad that there is such a dirth of quality projects for our black actors that they are reduced to accepting such demeaning roles. I find it amazing that we are doing this to ourselves this time around. When the powers that be in Hollywood see what we are willing to spend money seeing, they will certainly want to capitalize on the realization that quality and truth doesn’t matter and more trash will be released and passed off as art. What the heck is going on? Didn’t anyone GET Bamboozled? Well maybe they did. Those who spent hard-earned cash to see this film have truly been bamboozled into accepting this as having any social or artistic value. Tyler Perry? NAACP IMAGE AWARD recipient? God help us! ”
YTP
I think what Spike Lee said about Tyler’s Perry is contradicting. I like the House of Payne Show but i don’t like the Meet the Brown’s
I will like thank Spike Lee for this comment I never looked at Tyler’s Perry work in that way. I can say this Tyler’s Perry movies are really basic on the truth we do have people like this on his shows and his movies in our race I guess it depends upon the person who view it. It is always good to see both side to every story and just because Tyler’s Perry shows our people in one light and Spike Lee shows us in another dosen’t make neither
wrong. We must remember that one race is not better than the other. White people do the same thing but you don’t hear them putting each other down.
Here’s what we need to remember: We Live in a Capitalist Country?! Dolla-Dolla Bill Y’all!!! PERIOD! In other words, no matter how much Spike Lee has an issue with Tyler Perry and/or vice-versa; as well as so-called the “Black community” relying on the entertainment industry to better explain to our corporate, academic (in my case), and societal communities that these movies don’t reflect “all of us”, the bottom line is that almighty dollar. When I was listening to Spike Lee’s comments, I am curious to know why he (and his fellow brothers in film) did not come together and build a movie studio? Granted, I am old enough to understand some of the barriers; yet Tyler Perry took it to the next level…and some day, Spike may find himself having to ask Tyler to use his studio. Hmmmm….
what a pity,Spike are you jealous of the success that Tyler Perry has,don’t hate,why can’t a black person just compliment another,no one is interested in your views,GET A LIFE
I am split on this issue. While I agree with Spike Lee that we need to evolve from the buffonery and violent shows and movies, I commend Tyler Perry for what he has done for Black films. I do feel though, that some of his movies have moved away from message of looking to God instead of man for guidance and acceptance (Meet the Browns, Medea goes To Jail) he has created some movies that portray Blacks in a positive light (Why Did I Get Married, Diary of a Mad Black Woman). However, Spike Lee needs to get on some of these movie makers that make garbage with stereotypical roles and no overall message (Soul Plane, The Cookout). I don’t think Spike is jealous, but he needs to get on his fellow filmmakers that make this garbage.