On an interview with 60 Minutes Tyler Perry responds to Spike Lee’s claims that his films are coonery and setting the black community back.
Do You Think Tyler Perry’s Movies Are Coonery? Spike Lee Does!
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{ 47 comments… read them below or add one }
They sure are
I mean… why does it seem like every Tyler Perry film is the same???
They are, he reiterates the same concepts in every movie.
No, his films aren’t coonery. Amos and Andy dressed in blackface to entertain masta, recieved little to no compensation from masta, and did not own their images. Tyler is story telling to other blacks who can relate to his material, he owns his work and studio, has a huge black following, and is reaching back to help other minorities. He’s not bound by contract to a white man’s company to perpetuate a certain image and exploit his community. Spike should be encouraging and offering his expertise instead of looking down his nose and being overly critical.
His movies are a definite form of coonery but he now has enough of a fanbase to make movies of substance… so that’s what he should do. Had he tried to start out that way he wouldn’t have been this successful because in all honesty white people like coonery so they allowed him to get his shine for that.
First, white people didn’t allow Tyler Perry to do anything. All of his movies were financed by him with his own money that he earned from his plays. He did try hollywood but they shut the door in his face.
Second, people only hate on Tyler because they’re overly converned with what white people are thinking. When in fact white people don’t give a dam about us. We can be Oscar winning performers and screenwriters all we want and the worlds perception of black people still won’t change until blacks have the money and ownership and power to back up the accolades.
Last, Spike Lee should not be the one the lead a negative chorus against a fellow black professional who entered the game as a TOTAL AMATEUR and who has been able to accomplishmore in a 5 year period than Spike has in his entire career. If you really want to know what white people respect, they respect good business savy. The fact that Tyler Perry owns ALL of his material, a studio, and knows how to make hits will get him the respect that Spike is so despretly seeking but can’t seem to attain.
this person is right(:
yhur juss hating
Ofcourse it’s coonery, and he knows it. Mr. Brown and all his other dysfunctional characters are all meant to be low and sluthern, no one can be successful without being bad, nothing is above board everyman is either a woman beater, or a prince charming there’s no in between. It’s coonery and people like it for that. Let’s not kid ourselves I saw the 60 minutes interview because i’m not a coon, and i’m sure 90% of his core audience missed it because it wasn’t on BET!!! Thank goodness for youtube and thelifefiles for reproducing the interview for it’s patrons that use this site and mediatakeot as their main forms of world news.
People can call it coorery all they want, and these are the same people who look down on THEIR OWN PEOPLE. Madea and Brown are based on REAL people. Maybe this is not the way that you would like to be represented, but these personalities DO exist. Just because you look down on someone, doesn’t mean they should just go away. His movies promote faith and hope. I think Tyler Perry’s success should be celebrated. He represents a part of our culture that some may want to forget about, but he adds laughter to life. I wish him EVEN MORE SUCCESS!
I thank God for Tyler Perry it’s about time oru kids can watch something positive and funny and spiritual at the same time.It’s better than any spike lee movie he ever wrote or played in which where all coonery.STOP HATE N
really(:
I agree!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I think that this is so dissrespectfull,he is just being real.There is not one movie that he has made that you or someone you know hasn’t been through. I love how on all his movies he puts god in it or showing how when things go bad we all tend to look for god. He is truly amazing and I love him for that.
i agreeee(:
Spike has a sack of nerve to criticize an african american filmmaker. Lets not forget the movies he has made. those were coonery. Tyler may not make the best movies, but he is providing an outlet for african americans and OTHERS to display there talent. Lets not front… his characters are based on true people/personalities and i can pick a one of my family members and attach them to a character in one of his plays. To me, that aint a bad thing.. .but maybe i’m just an educated coon (doubt it though).
(:
The whole point is that whether or not the characters are “fake” or “real”, they promote a low brow, stereotypical image of black people that helps to promote the notion that African Americans are just idiots, made for your amusement. I don’t think he understood the question OR the critique, as his only response was that of defending his movies because they promote Christianity. What does Christianity, exactly, have to do with race relations. Quite frankly, why are ANY African Americans voluntarily Christian? Same goes for Latinos and Asians. Christianity is a religion that was forced on black people via slavery and colonization. Same goes for the Latin/ Hispanic community. Not everything has to be serious all the time. It’s ok to laugh. But these movies effect the perception of black people in the same way that “stereotypical” rap acts do. Think about any time you’ve seen a non African American who doesn’t enjoy rap make fun of it by pantomiming and repeating phrases. Thats’s the same thing these movies are doing.
Thank you. Coonery!!!
i think hes just proving the stereotype that black men have to wear a dress to maintain a successful movie role, i.e. eddie murphy, martin lawrence, and wesley snipes
he said he puts these characters into situations so that he can talk about love and faith etc. well i say you don’t need them, you don’t have to dumb it down for blk folks to get your msg.
It’s coonery and I for one do not look down on black people (@Science). It wouldn’t even be so bad if all the movies weren’t the same. I hate the Madea series.
He says it himself, “These characters are used as bait”…. the question is, what if the bait doesn’t work Tyler? Then you’re left with blatant, exaggerated and misrepresented caricatures holding the bag for the Black community. That’s like selling booze in church… yea it will get folks to go, but is it in turn perpetuating it’s own demise?
Hell yeah!!!!
Spike’s chose of words to describe the TV shows and Movies may have been harsh, but I agree with Spike…..Tyler Perry ‘s work is all the same to me…..I have never been to or watched on Video any of his work and never will….I don’t look down on people ….we are all the same ……..Yes ….every family has a Mr Brown and a crazy Aunt/Uncle…..a drunk …..so on and so forth …me personally….Tyler’s movies just aren’t for me…….good luck to him….and to his fans……….Enjoy
Screw Spike Lee and his jealous envy. Tyler Perry is an artist, and he has even given alot back to his community after all his success. Respect to anyone who does that, ESPECIALLY these days, when rappers are driving through the ‘hood’ with one of their 50 cars in front of people who may never even own one in their entire LIFE. Perry’s ‘coonery’ movies have grossed over 400 MILLION dollars and he is a humble and notable African American artist and philanthropist who derserves the support and respect of ALL races. F*** SPIKE LEE!!!!
a lot of philanthropists use blood money. Who said anything about rappers? The marketing of rap music has a lot to do with outward appearance and public perception, a lot of these “rappers” you’re mad at probably don’t have as much as you think. It’s weird that at first you denounce people for having money, yet then site the accumulation of money as the standard of success. How much do you donate per year? If the KKK donated to a good cause, would you respect them, too?
This is awful, here is yet another example of our own people taking away from the Blessing that God has given Tyler Perry and the world through his work. When spike Lee was making films about controversal things in the community and showing his talent as a gambling idiot no one took away from it they said yup that is what is happening, When he showed Denzel as a selfish womenizer no one said why is he showing our black men negetively. When he showed a black man having an affair w3ith a white woman and destroying his family no one said why is he exploting our families negetives. We apploaded his boldness. Now Tyler Perry has shown the other side of that same equation by saying look this is my momma nd grand momma , here are my successful peers dealing with day to day issues and he has the nerve to be jealous and spiteful.. Grow up Mr. Lee try another approach to life.
By some of you people’s logic- “Good Times” or “Sanford & Son” would be considered coonery and you know got damn well that they weren’t. Those shows, like Tyler P’s flicks just show a part of our culture as it really is. Spike is just hating on a nother brotha stealing his limelight. Plain and simple. Spike Lee is becoming the KRS One of film making….always hating on folks that don’t follow their formula. Fuck that. Keep doing you Tyler and don’t let Spike Lee’s old bitterness get to you.
Spike Lee’s movies and this guy’s movie have just about nothing in common other than the fact that they are both filmed with a camera. They are not aimed at the same audiences, and they both set out to accomplish different things. Yes, they both are around to make money, but at the end of the day, if you want to accuse Spike Lee of jealousy, then you are basically saying they exist in the same world, which they don’t. This would be like comparing Langston Hughes to Soulja Boy.
Tyler Perry’s movies are degrading to Black people and especially Black women. First of all, I never understood what was so funny about a man in drag. I just don’t see the humor in that. Secondly, Black women are already stereotyped as being overbearing, so his Madea characters are no different than that bullsh*t Eddie Murphy did in Norbit. 200% COONERY! I have to agree with Spike, that Tyler has set the Black community back decades with his garbage. Not only are his characters ridiculously stereotypical, his story lines are very thin, horribly written, and simplistic. Just because Oprah supports him doesn’t make him talented.
It’s up to black women as individuals to disprove those stereotypes. And it’s up to all of us to stop acting like fools and giving people stereotypes to run with. The problem isn’t Tyler’s or anyone else’s movies. The problem is structural and it is deeply rooted in our communities with irresponsible parents, uneducated kids, and arrogant “I know it all….can’t nobody tell me shit” attitudes. Sure positive high quality black movies would be good PR but it won’t solve the problem. Most people get their perception of black folks from encounters with black folk. I see black people in public at all times of the day acting like absolute dumb asses. No movie is causing them to act like that and no movie can refute those real life images. Black people need to address the real issues and stop looking for scapegoats.
Nobody is using Perry as a scapegoat, and nobody said that his movies are causing poeple to act one way or another. Tyler is not hte first or the only person doing these types of movies, but that still doesn’t make it okay. I agree that it is up to an individual to disprove stereotypes, but I disagree with you when you said most people get their perception of Black folds from encounters with them. Unfortunately that is the problem with stereotypes, they taint people’s perception of how people really are. They may meet decent Black people, but they still believe a majority of us are like what they see in movies and on television. Just ask people from other countries who have never actually met a Black person but have watched these types of movies.
@AP187
Tyler Perry is an artist? how? by dressing up as a woman? your totally insane and should not be allowed to speak in public.
Thanks Mr. Lee for bringing this matter to the forefront. Hopefully this will discourage Ms Winfrey, Mr. Cosby, Mr. Perry and yourself from making movies that dipict a negative image of the Black community. If you are looking for a positive script to make into a movie; why don’t you make a movie of your own life from rags to riches. All of you have success stories to tell but for whatever reason your movies seem to focus only on the negative side. For instances;Ms Winfrey movies are mostly about some poor Black lady, Messrs. Cosby and Perry seem to do movies whose main character is Black and Obese while you Mr. Lee seem to have a focus with low income people who are Black. We have plenty of Blacks who are not obese and low income. “Do the Right Thing” and make your next movie a positive one about our people.
Doug, Author,
“Oops People of Color Live There”
if you can’t relate to the movies, then they’re not for you. they are made for entertainment purposes. ppl need to stop watching the movies as if they are seeking a life altering message because thats what churches are for, not movies. his movies are based on incidents that he encountered througout his life. many of us “black folks” can relate to it, and it gives us a piece of mind. its apart of some of our culture and ppl need to stop being offended by it and acting as if it doesn’t exist. this is the reason we are overlooked and hardly taken seriously. this existed long before tyler perry was even heard of so lets look at the real issue and stop looking for scapegoats like “GTOFH” stated.
Everybody knows they have a Madea or a Brown in their family. I find it funny, that you think that you are so much better then this man to judge him. He writes based on what he knows, and you are probably mad that he hit the nail on the head. There are plenty of things to relate to on his movies. I personally think his T.V. shows were better as plays. He is different from the trashy novels that everybody spends money to read. Why didn’t anybody bother him when he was a traveling show? Nobody had a damn thing to say about him until he started making movies, and blowing some of these other movies out of the water. Nobody complained when he casted church members, only when he started casting A List movie stars. This man can’t win? Maybe some of the nay sayers should try being homeless, and climbing this high afterwards?
I have all respect for Spike Lee, but he needs to cute the bitter bullshit and move on! He has made some classics, but maybe he is upset all the people who he starred in his movies no longer work with him and all are clawing for a Tyler Perry movie? Just a thought.
I’ve not seen a TP movie. Not my tastes. I’d rather watch a sci-fi flick or thriller than comedy. Black or white. But from I’ve heard it would seem that that his films carry the same underlying theme from onepic to the next.
I am, however, fascinated by this thread and if I were a sociology major this thread would make a great paper.
There’s a notable difference in ‘tones’ of those who profess to love the movies and those who dislike them.
Those who love the films seem to have a much more emotional response to the subject than those who dislike the films. The writing styles would also seem to portray those who dislike the films as somewhat calmer and willing to go into detail as to why they dislike/disapprove of the subject matter and how it’s delivered.
Straight coon..
I do believe somethings need to be changed in his films. Many do not care what whites are thinking some do. Out of respect for ourselves we should not do and allow certain things. I disagree that he has accomplished more than spike lee. Some of Perry’s movies do not transition well from comedy to drama. They are mixed together and sometimes makes the film confusing. The browns and the other show are not really good shows. They are ok. Nothing to run home to see
l enjoy Tyler Perry’s movies we are a family of latinos and we watch the browns as well as george lopez and you know his movies have things in them that every culture goes through weather your black, white, hispanic, chinese. His movies are not coonery because every culture has a madea, a brown, a bennie from george lopez. Every domestic violence, drugs, drug addictions, all types of violence, mothers fathers abandoning their children for drugs and alcohol knows no color so he hits it the way it is and yet he shows that no matter what one has gone through “It’s not where you came from it’s where your going that matters” he shows hope, future, God and I love that because it’s true.
After carefully reading each comment, I realized that the words “Coonery & Buffoonery” are harsh words. I have found in life that it has many pros and cons and when we tend to continue to discriminate each other then it continues to lower our standands and self esteem etc… I think we should all embrace life as it is whether or not it involves a Spike Lee, a Tyler Perry, a Madea etc… If you take a minute to think about it each comment had a different personality, language and style to say the least. To me it was just like comparing and reading the passages from the Bible from the “Old to the New”. Some literally take the passages word from word, then some only use what they think they need and then some dismiss it altogether. And yet, each of us are striving towards some goal in life whether or not we embrace the positive or negative. With this being said ” I think we should listen before we speak, think before we badger, remain silent, and Love inspite of. After all “A House Divided Cannot Stand”
Embracing Life
Finally, the wise speak. Kudos!
Spike Lee needs to go somewhere and sit DOWN. All of his movies are overly sexed, filled with cursing and epitomize the image of the angry Black Woman or Man. I am sick of Spike Lee. He has no room to judge or criticize anyone. And also isn’t art supposed to be individualistic or subjective? I, for one, do not see any of Tyler Perry’s work as coonery or buffonery. I can just about relate to almost every character he has or know of someone who does. I think that Tyler Perry’s movies are great because they have the ability to take you on an emotional roller coaster. Tyler Perry has a formula to his movies that can make you laugh, cry, smile and anger you just in one show. Not many people have the ability to do that.
Another thing, Tyler Perry incorporates Black People from all walks of life in his movies. He has the successful lawyers, doctors, judges and businessman as well as the everyday working janes and joes. And another thing, I don’t care what anyone says, I think that the character of Madea is brilliant because she embodies the epitome of someone’s aunt, mother or grandma; fun, full of wisdom, doesn’t take any stuff from anybody and is always willing and able to help in anyway she can. Tyler Perry is a man of substance because in a world gone corrupt. In the general atmosphere of “to each his own” and “bad is good” his movies are always centered around morals and the teachings of the Christian faith. Who else is Hollywood is actually willing to stand up for their religious beliefs in lieu of a successful career? Not many.
And as far as you all criticizing the character of Madea, to me and many others, she is representative of someone that I know of and someone that myself, my family and my friends can relate to. Heck, I have Native American freinds, White friends and Hispanic friends who find comfort, solace, hope and a reason to beleive and never give from pretty much watching one or all of Tyler Perry’s movies. It’s a shame that some of you have your head’s shoved so far up your you-know-what don’t have the ability to see that. This could be in part that you never even took the time to even watch a Tyler Perry movie, play or show.
Tyler Perry keep doing your thing and may God continously bless you!
Side Note: I am a Christian by choice and not by force!
I noticed that I repeated a few of the same things twice. This is not because I can not make any more valid points, which I can, but because I was overly excited about the topic.
Thanks,
Tania
TP movies all seem the same to me an hour worth of drama we see at home and then its church time. Time for change
all thee ppl that dont like tyler perry, ya juss havent seen whats he been though almost all his child hood life his daddy was an abuser, and ppl that used to live by him would rape him, his movies has been about his life ya juss cant judge him juss cause yall saw one show. thats only one show like yall dont neeed to say his shows or movies are cooorrrneey, spike leee dont know what he talkin about really, hes jusst hating , like tyler perry is a good guy and jusst because he dress in gurls clothes for a PLAY its juss cosume, like yall havent wore girls/boys clothes before.. i think that all his show and moviess are funny to me, thanks juss had to put my point across(: dont judge a book buy its cover(: