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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 is not God. He should respect his peers. So, he came first, that does not mean he has the right to condescend on someone else’s work because he doesn’t agree with it. I have always hated his short sighted and narrow views. I haven’t seen one of his movies in 20 years.
I DO AGREE WITH SPIKE LEE IN THIS DAY AND TIME WE AS A RACE OF BLACK PEOPLE NEED ENCOURAGEMENT OF POSITIVE ROLE MODEL’S ,DOCTOR LAWYER’S BLACK WALL STREET BANKER’S TEACHER’S ,MOTHER’S FATHER’S ETC..YOU SEE WHEN ANYONE LOOK AT SOMETHING THE EYE IS THE MIRROR TO YOUR SOUL YOU BEGAN TO EMULATE JUST THAT .TYLER PERRY STARTED OUT WITH BLACK UNITE WHICH WE AS BLACK PEOPLE NEED AT THAT TIME MAKING WORTHY PLAY’S THAT EVERONE COULD ENJOY, BUT NOW IS THE TIME TO RISE A LITTLE HIGER IN HIS UNDERSTANDING THAT SIDE SHOW JUST”WONT DO ANY MORE”WE NEED SHOW’S THAT ARE POSITIVE LIKE THE COSBY’S.
spike lee i don’t know y u r hatin on tyler perry. mr.perry make good movies also. to me he is another bill cosby making positive movies that r happening now. tyler perry he is okay with me i watch his sitcom and movies. i think u just mad because u r not in the SPOTLIGHT NO MORE.
I am not offended by Spike’s comment because he is entitled to his opinion.
I am an avid fan of Tyler Perry and Spike Lee and everyone is entitled to speak on their behalf regardless whether it be constructive or non-constructive criticism. They both have played pivotal roles in the Black community and gave aspiring actors and actress jobs !!!!!!! Tyler Perry has one hellva bank account so I am sure he is alright !!!!! Smile……….Kudos to Spike and Tyler……….
I don’t even know what the hell he is talking about!!
I think we as black people have come a long way, and I believe that we will continue to make strides in whatever field we decide to pursue. What I don’t understand is why did we get to a point that we are always looking for a way to look down on the next person. I thought that our fight was so that we could prove that we were just as good if not better than the majority. Now, that we are amongst that majority we still keep pushing to be more snobbish, stuckup, siddity, and just out right replusive. We felt that slavery was wrong just simply because we were hated for the color of our skin. We have gotten to the point that we have become a product of our success that anyone or thing reminds us of our history we want to crush it, obliterate it. (whether it’s the single mom barely taking care of children to the person busting that butt every day at a job making minimum wage) this is still somehow beneath us (it use to a time when we could not get a job unless it was in the fields). When is enough going to be enough. When can we sit back and relax and realize that the fight before this time (2009) has served a purpose, and that being able to look back or just enjoy something that makes you laugh without labeling it! Life is short, do all that you can and enjoy your life!
Spike Lee made some points that has echoed throughout our community. I recently heard Tyler’s Cousin Marlon Campbell speaking about his upcoming movie Oblivious and it has a very universal feel to it. The question for me know becomes…will Marlon Campbell become a sell out because of his type of film or will we finally support diversified African American film. Plus Marlon is HOT!!!
Sorry I had to add that.
Well i love tyler and i think spike is hating on him let him have his time his is over and he knows tht so i feel spike needs to get a gr ab an let tyler do his thang keep up the good work up thts 100 !!
Why in the heck when god bless somebody people got to be critical . we are our own enemy. we hate more on each other than we congratulate. I understand what everyone is saying. people do have rights of their own opinions. But, a least we as a community is in a brighter light than ever before. Black people well, some think of anything negative to say about something positive. You can get out the hood , black people will get jealous of that. Or just wanna start stuff with you for no apparent reason . Something is truly wrong with us as a whole. Tyler keep up the good work. Spike the same thing. Love you both. May god bless you both.
I hate Spike Lee and all his movies. Clint Eastwood told him to shut his face and I say the same. The Wimp. He made a comment years ago about Black men not liking dark women. He’s sick. His movies play light against dark. The Wimp is sick. I find Tyler funny and willing to give all people work. Can Spike stop hating for once. I’m Hershey Chocolate and I’m a proud woman. I meet and have had men of all shades. Real people and people who love themselves don’t trip off of skin tone. The ugly ones like Babyface, Will Smith and my list could go on do. Spike shut your face…..
ithink spike lee is narrow minded and maybe feeling alittle jealous and should thing about things he say about people tayler perry movies are ok to me I try and watch them all the time but i dont have any thing bad to say about any one work because that is not good tyler perry and spike lee keep up the good work maybe tyler and spike lee can make a movie together ha ha ha smile.
Tyler Perry keep doing what you are doing. I really appreciate you because you are very motivated and positive. If you had a problem with Spike Lee I am sure you would address it to him and not put him down in public. You forgive Spike because YOU KNOW ALL OF YOUR BLESSINGS COMES FROM GOD!
I completely agree with Spike! I have never gone to a Tyler Perry production. It is as Spike said “coonery”. It’s also very unoriginal and predictable. Tyler makes all black women seem angry,loud and overbearing. We are much more complicated. We have many sides. We are much more complicated as a people. Tyler Perry’s films are simple-minded. I don’t like being treated as if I don’t have a brain.
“I think Spike Lee is a little jealous of Tyler Perry’s success. Lee’s movies have always had an element of “coonery & bafoonery,” as he puts it. But now he’s upset with Perry’s tv shows.”
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This is the kind of comment I expected on BET. Spike has nothing to be jealous of. He’s a very successful,intelligent man. Furthermore,if Spike’s movies contained any kind of coonery the purpose was to provoke thought or make folks pay attention to how we as a people are viewed. It wasn’t used to poke fun at black people or get laughs at the expense of black folks. There is a difference.
To be honest,I don’t watch BET because of the COONERY. Same reason I don’t go to see Tyler Perry films.
“I think Spike Lee is a little jealous of Tyler Perry’s success. Lee’s movies have always had an element of “coonery & bafoonery,” as he puts it. But now he’s upset with Perry’s tv shows.
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Expected response from a BET poster. No disrespect intended, but this mindset is exactly why I don’t watch BET or Tyler Perry films for that matter. BET and Tyler Perry films don’t want to provoke any original thought. They want to keep you in your place. Only simple-minded folks watch BET (other than Sunday) and go to see Tyler Perry films. When Spike used coonery, it was used to make you think and also show you in a humorous way how you are perceived. When Tyler uses it, he does so for laughs at the expense of black folks. Big difference.
BTW,Spike is a very successful,intelligent man. He’s not perfect,but I’m sure he’s got nothing to be jealous of.
““Lee, Perry and Singleton could take lessons from Will Smith and the way his films are diverse & universeral and not just 90 minutes of stereotypes.
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Will Smith is an actor. He takes direction from them. There is nothing he can teach these men. If anything,he may learn a thing or two. “
“We only hurt ourselves when we go on national television, and talk about a fellow artist who have done nothing, but create positive images on television.”
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The problem is Tyler isn’t sending any positive messages. Sorry.
Not offended at all, there are times when Spike Lee steps in it, but I agree 100% on this one. I knew from the very beginning I wouldn’t watch this #@@* show, I felt the same about Family Matters, then I hear Rush Limbaugh say, Barack Urkel, but in defense of Tyler Perry, this creates a lot of Capital for him, and for that I give him Kudos, but the real praise is that he does good things with that Capital. You never want to see two influential African Americans butting heads in public, but it needed to be said.
I think that there is a level of jealous in his comments and that he needs to step off alittle. The way things are going these days our people need something to laugh about and I think that he is it. Spike needs to stick with what he is doing and Mr. Perry should keep on keeping on.