Roommates, Tyler Perry has big plans for his new studio complex in Atlanta, which will only add to the legacy he plans to leave behind. Aside from creating opportunities for people through film, Tyler wants to be create an environment in which the underprivileged can be able to thrive in the industry as well.
Tyler sat down with Gayle King to speak about his plans, and when asked about where he wants to take his legacy, Tyler put the movies to the back burner. Instead, he says he wants to create even more opportunities, particularly for those who are not part of the industry.
“I’ll tell you what I’m most excited about next is pulling this next phase off–building a compound for trafficked women, girls, homeless women, LGBTQ youth who are put out or displaced,”Tyler says. “And having a compound that is a beautiful place right here somewhere on this 330 acres, where they’re trained in the business and they become self sufficient.”
Tyler’s new plans will add another layer to his Tyler Perry Studios, which opened this past weekend in Atlanta. He says he plans to provide these groups with all the necessary things to succeed including child-care and housing.
“They will live in nice apartments, there’s daycare, there’s all of these wonderful things that allows them to re-enter society and then pay it forward again. That’s what I hope to do soon.”
The announcement comes on the heels of some criticism to Tyler’s studios opening in Atlanta, which is currently burdened by homelessness and human trafficking. Many have also come for how he has represented black women and the LGBTQ community in his films.
“It’s hard to celebrate Tyler Perry’s historic success when he got there by parodying big bodies Black women, using thinly veiled misogynoir, expressing overt transphobia and homophobia, and privileging cashew Black maleness ever black women, femmes, and queers… but go awf,” one twitter user writes.
Nevertheless, we hope Tyler’s strides to help will make a lasting impact.
