You know you have arrived when Spike Lee belittles your films’ success. In a recent interview with 60 Minutes, Tyler Perry addressed the comments in which Spike Lee compared Tyler Perry films and TV shows to Amos and Andy. Not only did he compare it to slap stick racist humor, he also used “baffoonery” and “coonery” as additional descriptions of Perry’s work. Now if Spike Lee would have picked on “Who’s You Caddy” then I wouldn’t raise an eyebrow. But Tyler Perry started in the theater with plays, and built a loyal following with his body of work. His plays were so successful that he was able to sell them on DVD, and claim 3 top ten spots for his sales. Naturally he decided to make a movie, and has been going ever since.
I would love to read that to my fan base. Let me tell you what Madea, Brown, all these characters are are bait. Disarming, charming, make-you-laugh bait, so I can slap Madea in something and talk about God, love, faith, forgiveness, family, any of those things, you know. So yes, I think, you know, that pisses me off. It really does.
It’s so insulting. It’s attitudes like that that make Hollywood think that these people do not exist. And that’s why there’s no material speaking to them, speaking to us.
Spike Lee problem is that he doesn’t no how to end his movies, and even if they start out exploring some deep socialogical issue, they lack a connection to real people. Where as Tyler Perry is able to capture the essence of real people, and real problems. Everytime you watch a Tyler Perry movie, you are shaking your head because you know someone like Madea. Maybe Spike Lee doesn’t have any Madea’s in his family or neighborhood, and every member of his family are deep philosophical people without a connection to reality, but to the surreality.
PPR_Scribe
Comment made on 10/26/2009 @ 1:07 PM
Every time I watch a Tyler Perry movie I am shaking my head that I fell for yet another person’s promise that I would like it–this time.
I have concluded that the man’s films are just not for me.
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ODARA
Comment made on 10/26/2009 @ 1:49 PM
Shame on Spike Lee! It’s pure envy! You’d think someone of his stature would be welcoming one of his “brothers” with open arms. Spike’s notorious for making films that dissect black America from a different perspective. Too bad his reality is distorted. Maybe he’s jealous of a little competition? Or in his case its fear of being eliminated. Tyler’s doing his thing & I’m NOT mad @ him!
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1 mintue to snap
Comment made on 10/26/2009 @ 6:39 PM
*comment removed by blog owner*
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Keisha
Comment made on 10/27/2009 @ 8:57 PM
I think Spike is definitely jealous that he is no longer one of the most famous black directors in Hollywood. I think he is jealous that he has not had the type of success nor the thought to build his own studio. He is a prime example of the African crab in a bucket syndrome. You climb up someone’s back to push down the rest of the people who need a leg up, rather than doing like Tyler and dropping a ladder back down to help other’s come up.
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jean
Comment made on 10/28/2009 @ 9:22 AM
Spike Lee shouldn’t be jealous of Tyler Perry. Spike helped to open the door for Tyler. He should be proud of Tyler and happy that he is so successful. Every Tyler Perry movie I go to see the theater is packed.
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ghosthuntersofVA
Comment made on 01/04/2010 @ 3:35 PM
Unfortunately, Spike Lee is jealous of Tyler Perry’s enormous success. Spike Lee is a prime example of how Black people are their own worst enemy when it comes to keeping our Race down. The stats don’t lie!!. Tyler Perry movies always rate high at the box office because they can be funny while portraying all the things Black people are afraid to talk about such as domestic violence, homosexuality, blacks in prison and out of wedlock pregnancies. I have never seen any of these important topics in Spike Lee’s films. All Tyler Perry’s plays rate high in the stats and as far as “House of Payne”, I’m sorry Spike Lee, but if you have ever been to the south, this is a typical family. If you ever come to Virginia, you will swear you are seeing double. There are several people in Virginia who act and look like the characters on this TV show. Listen to your fans, they love you Spike Lee, but you have no right to criticize Tyler Perry.
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