Coincidentally, after Mo’Nique’s harsh remarks towards Tyler Perry and other high-power execs in the film industry, in which she accused them of blackballing (she later called it “whiteballing”), the self-made producer, writer, and director shared that he doesn’t think Hollywood deals in black or white. In fact, in a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Perry discusses the only color the industry sees and how understanding this principle could earn respect and longevity.
“Listen, let me tell you something about what I know about Hollywood. I don’t think it’s black and white, I think it’s green,” Perry tells THR in the May 2017 feature. “It’s just about, Where’s the money? How do we make the money? How do we make the business grow? It’s all about the money. So whatever’s making the money is where the respect is going to be.”
The man behind the Madea persona also said his understanding of the way the industry works is something he shares with fellow media mogul, Oprah, whom he has previously got financial advice from.
Perry’s comments about race in Hollywood were in response to a comment on whether he thought the industry respected African-American audiences. Nevertheless, his opinion is very interesting, considering Mo’Nique’s claims about not being treated or paid fairly. And to raise the tensions even higher, Perry has yet to respond to the actress.
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On Bill Cosby after recent revelations have come to light: “It’s such an awful situation. It’s so sad; you have all of these women saying all of these things. … All I can say about it, it’s heartbreaking at so many levels.”
On taking Oprah’s advice on money to heart: “Some people, they’re in show business, but they’re all about the show and nobody’s paying attention to the business.”
On using writing as therapy: “All of these characters in my head, they allow me to be as crazy as I want to be.”
On his failed career as a used car salesman, “I couldn’t dupe people.”
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Read Tyler Perry’s full interview with The Hollywood Reporter here.