ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JULY 10: Tyler Perry speaks at a special screening of Madea's Destination Wedding ATL at Regal Atlantic Station on July 10, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Derek White/Getty Images for Netflix)
Tyler Perry recently gagged the internet when he kept itsuperhonest about his financial boundaries with his family! The entertainment industry mogul told famous friends on Kirk Franklin’s ‘Den of Kings’ that he’s previously put a wall between his family and his wallet. In one instance, he fired an aunt from his business. In another example, he rejected an outlandish $1 million request.
As mentioned, Perry was chatting on the YouTube series as a guest with Jeezy and Derrick Hayes, CEO of Dave’s Cheesesteaks and husband of Slutty Vegan founder, Pinky Cole. About 16 minutes into the table sit-down, Franklin commended Jeezy for his longevity in his industry, and asked about keeping his day-one supporters at bay. Kirk talked about the pressure of feeling like something is owed to family and loved ones who watched the rise to the top.
“There’s this automatic tension of what do I owe. How much do I owe back? Who do I have to bring along? How do I have to let some go? It’s like boss-ology and family,” Franklin asked. Adding, “How do y’all struggle with that tension?”
Tyler Perry immediately jumped in and didn’t mince his words! He told the table about snatching a job back from his auntie after she was careless with the opportunity. “I fired my aunt,” he said, and the table laughed, with Jeezy saying, “I feel him.” Perry explained that his aunt would always call him asking for money, so he eventually told her he wanted to help her build something and not be “welfare” to her. He gave her a job, but Auntie dropped the ball. Too many late work arrivals and frequent call-outs later, Tyler said he gave her the boot.
“You want me to hand you the money, but you don’t want to work for it. That doesn’t work for me, and it’s the same way with my son, like he’s 10 years old. Like there’s certain things that he wants, he has to do chores and work for it. I don’t believe in giving us things that’s gonna handicap us. That is the worst thing you can do and I’ve had family members that I’ve done that to because my mother has asked me to,” Tyler Perry said.
After his mother passed away in 2009, Tyler Perry said he sent out letters shutting down the money pipeline. He told loved ones they had 60 days to get financially straight before his well dried up for them. Perry said that he 100 percent did that, and everyone got jobs.
As the conversation continued for the next few minutes, Hayes asked Perry about family members wanting to be paid more. “I have family who got mad at me cause I wouldn’t give them a million dollars,” Tyler responded. Hayes, who was celebrating his birthday during the dinner, said he’s going through that same scenario with his loved ones. Perry told Hayes that if he’s trying to build an empire, he has to watch the family members who will poke holes in the boat to get there.
“So sometimes you build a boat by yourself. Y’all all wait over here on the shore. Stay here I’m building this boat, I’m gonna go and build this and then I’m gonna come back and see who’s worthy to come. Because anybody that’s gon drag you down, or put holes in the boat or try to destroy you, why bring them over?,” Tyler Perry said.
See what else Kirk Franklin, Jeezy, Tyler Perry, and Derrick Hayes had to say about legacy, faith, and leadership.
In June, ‘The Oval’ actor Derek Dixon rocked the internet after filing a $260 million lawsuit against Tyler Perry. The petition accuses the mogul of using his industry influence “to create a coercive, sexually exploitative” dynamic. He also claimed Tyler Perry subjected him to sexual harassment, assault, battery, and professional retaliation.
Additionally, Dixon included screenshots of text conversations between him and Perry that showed them communicating about elevation and keeping their friendship private to avoid conflict with co-workers. Perry’s lawyer called the allegations false, saying Derek Dixon got close to Perry “for what now appears to be nothing more than setting up a scam.”Tyler Perry himself has not addressed the lawsuit.
