Lee has since walked back his comments, but he’s not the only member of the African-American community to call him out. When asked about Perry in 2009, Spike Lee said, “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 buffoonery.” Yes, I know, his problematic depiction of minority characters leave many (including myself) cold on his brand, but the stats don’t lie.Ĭritics and members of the African-American community have derided Perry’s films for amplifying negative or stereotypical images of black identity, with Madea - Perry’s characterization of a loud, gun-toting, bible-beating southern woman, and the centerpiece of his Madea-verse - often manifesting as their most obvious target. They celebrate stories that Hollywood largely ignores, and he continues to showcase A-list and up-and-coming black talent. I’m by no means a Perry “stan,” but I also can’t hate on him because I simply can’t knock the hustle. Yet he remains maligned and derided by critics and many Hollywood insiders.

Largely removed from the Hollywood machine, Perry founded a studio where he produced, directed, and wrote 20 films, eight television shows, and a myriad of other projects in all forms of media. Directly or indirectly, the multi-hyphenate media mogul has been an innovator of black cinema for the better part of the last 20 years. You would be hard-pressed to find a black creative who doesn’t similarly connectk to Perry in some way. Even global cinematic juggernaut “Black Panther” connects back to Tyler Perry Studios, with part of the film having been shot at his Atlanta studio sound stage. More than a who’s who of black Hollywood, this is a list of black creatives who have worked with writer-director-star and media mogul Tyler Perry.

List of tyler perry movies and plays