THE FACTS
In his interview with 60 Minutes Tyler Perry addresses Spike Lee’s criticism of his films.

THE SPIN
Earlier this year while speaking to Ed Gordon on Our World with Black Enterprise Spike Lee ripped into Tyler Perry.

Spike told Ed:

“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.’”

In his interview with 60 Minutes, Tyler Perry finally responded:

Spike Lee often runs into problems as a Black filmmaker because the major studios feel that unless we play a certain type of character the movies won’t do well. And when you have someone like Tyler Perry come out and make millions of movies with said characters it only validates Hollywood’s stance.

At the same time, Tyler Perry’s audience has long been avoided and maybe they’re not interested in Spike Lee and other directors’ films because it doesn’t appeal to them. Tyler’s stories do stress family and spirituality – it’s not like he’s leading Black people into the abyss. 

I think both have their place in Hollywood, but it’s a shame that when the majors look to Blacks they still prefer we be dumbed down. But in the end, Tyler owns his own studio and thus can make whatever he wants so Spike, there you go.

YOUR SPIN: Who do you agree with, Spike or Tyler?  Tell us here.

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(*The views contained herein are solely the views of their respective authors, and do not express the views of TV One. TV One does not take responsibility for their content.)

THE FACTS
Mo’Nique’s publicist quits amid rumors that the Precious star has become too egoistical to work with.

THE SPIN
Roger Friedman says Mo’Nique’s publicist of two weeks quit on her because she’s reportedly too difficult to work with.

Apparently Mo’Nique – who is enjoying Oscar buzz for her role in the film, Precious – was supposed to attend last Saturday’s New York Film Festival premiere of the movie.

Now, if you’re trying to get an Oscar you do press. You meet film folks, you smile and wave at the media people. That is, if you know how this works. Mo’Nique is rumored not to,and has missed both the Cannes and Toronto film festivals.

Oh and she skipped out on the NY premiere of the film last weekend, too.

Team Mo’Nique says this is due to the comedian working hard on her BET talk show. Others don’t buy that, and there have been rumors in recent months that Mo’Nique has been demanding $100,000 per public appearance.

Freidman talked to one of her reps who said, “It’s just supporting actress. It’s not lead, is it?”

Yeah, who cares? It’s not like that whole “Best Supporting Actress” Oscar does nothing for an actor’s career. Isn’t that right Whoopi and J.Hud?

Now there are rumors that the film’s producers, Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry have instructed the studio stop campaigning for Monique and reshift their Oscar efforts behind Mariah Carey.

Let’s start a prayer circle just in case this is true. I’m going to need someone to remind members from her camp that only a couple of years ago was she known as Nikki Parker from UPN. You can’t be a black actress and have both Oprah and Tyler Perry mad at you.

Source

YOUR SPIN: Do you think Mo’Nique might be ego tripping now?  Tell us here. 

Image courtesy of stylevanguard.com

(*The views contained herein are solely the views of their respective authors, and do not express the views of TV One. TV One does not take responsibility for their content.)

THE FACTS
On his blog, Tyler Perry writes about being molested as a child.

THE SPIN
Inspired by the recent film Precious, which he and Oprah Winfrey serve as executive producers for, Tyler Perry wrote an impassioned letter detailing the mental and physical abuse he experienced.

On the verbal and physical abuse he received at the hands of his father, Perry wrote:

Memories at 40: “What the f*#K are you reading books for?! That’s bull*#*T! ”

“’You F*#*ing jackass! You got book sense but you ain’t got no mothaf*#*en common sense! You ain’t sh*t and ain’t never gonna be sh*t!’ I heard this every day of my childhood. As my father would beat and belittle me, he played all kinds of mind games with me. He knew I loved cookies as a kid, most kids do. So he would buy them and put them on top of the fridge and when I would eat them he would beat me mercilessly.”

And on sexual abuse he wrote:

Memories at 40: I got a call not long ago from a friend. He told me that a man that I knew from church when I was a kid had died and he didn’t have any insurance. His family was trying to reach out to me to see if I would pay for his funeral. I quickly said no, but I wish I would have said yes. There is something so powerful to me in burying the man that molested me. I wish I would have dug the grave myself.

And much like his films, Perry ended his post on an optimistic note:

“If you’re having a hard time getting over something in your life, maybe you can try forgiveness too. It’s not easy, but it does bring forth healing. I know that there are a lot of people out there with stories far worse than mine but you, too, can make it. To those of you who have, welcome to life. I celebrate you. We’re all PRECIOUS in His sight.”

You can read the letter in its entirety here.

YOUR SPIN: Have you ever experienced anything like this?  How did you survive?  Tell us here.

Image courtesy of wordpress.com

(*The views contained herein are solely the views of their respective authors, and do not express the views of TV One. TV One does not take responsibility for their content.)