I chuckled first when I saw the headline. I know the algorithm knew I would be interested in it because I had just finished watching Straw. A movie recently released by Tyler Perry.
It is no longer a new thing to see, read, or hear about workplace violence, sexual harassment, and any other vices you could think of in the movie industry.
It's almost as though the more power, wealth, and fame that you gain, the more likely you are to be labelled as one of these. Someone will always remember an advance you made towards them in the past, whether it was intentional, innocent, or consensual.
Tyler Perry is someone I have come to admire so much that I beg your pardon if you are upset that I am taking his side. I do not believe he had sexually abused anyone. His films have done nothing but try to bring the black man back to his origins, making sure to portray the trials and tribulations we face especially outside our lands of birth.
Straw, for instance, had me realize how much was stacked against us when we consider the resources that are available to us as black people in a strange man's land. Perry's movies have always tried to make us see how strong and resilient we are in the face of challenges. We overcome some, others overwhelm us, but we keep going regardless.
With all of the mastery he attained, there's no doubt someone will try to ruin his career with false accusations. We should also not forget that there have been a series of backlash over his movies over the years and he kept growing a thick skin. None of those bad reviews got to him. Instead, he kept writing new ones, producing and advancing his career.
I am led to believe that since he learned over the year not to listen to what people say about his work, his enemies decided to invent a new way to get to him. But thank goodness, his thick skin applies to every angle of backlash you want to bring. No dirt scares him. I believe he will continue to do what he is good at regardless of what people are saying about him.
He doesn't need those external validations, he is his own god. He exists so the rest of the people in the film industry can learn a lesson or two. And when he retires, his name will be on the sands of time.
Image is not mine
