Film director and screenplay writer, Tyler Perry stopped by the Oprah Winfrey show and shared intimate details about his abusive childhood. The intimate and revealing interview showed a new side to the star and he even cried. Check out some snippets from what he said below.
On his childhood
“[It was] a living hell,” Tyler says. As a picture of a young Tyler flashes across the screen, tears flood his eyes. “That’s hard for me to look at,” he says. “I feel like I died as a child.”To endure the violent beatings, shouting and name-calling, Tyler says he used his imagination to escape.
“I could go to this park [in my mind] that my mother and my aunt had taken me to. … I’m there in this park running and playing, and it was such a good day,” he says. “So, every time somebody was doing something to me that was horrible, that was awful, I could go to this park in my mind until it was over.
On his father abusing him
To this day, I don’t know why he did it. But I remember him cornering me in a room and hitting me with this vacuum cleaner cord. He would just not stop. There are all these welts on [me], the flesh that’s coming from my bone, and I had to wait for him to go to sleep,” Tyler says. “When he fell asleep, I ran to my aunt’s house, and she was mortified when she saw it.On being molested
Tyler says he later endured sexual molestation at the hands of a male nurse and a man he knew from church. “[The man from church] used God and the Bible against me to justify a lot of the things that were going on. It was so horrible,” Tyler says. “And that was my first sexual experience, with this man performing oral sex on me as a boy.”
To view some clips from the show make sure to visit Oprah’s official website.
That’s some very heavy stuff he admitted. Seems like some of the most powerful people like him and Oprah went through some rough times, yet they managed to get through those times and made big names for themselves.
Tough times don’t last. Tough people do…
I watched that yesterday and it was the most heart wrenching interview. I even shed a few tears. He was so transparent and honest and you could tell that it still affects him to this day.
I have nothing but the utmost respect for this man. Even though his father physically abused him for years, Tyler still bought his father a mansion in New Orleans and sends him a cheque every month to support him. He still takes care of the man, because he his father, but he doesn’t maintain a relationship with him, nor does he want to. Respect. God bless you, Tyler.
It was a very good show but im still a little ify on it! I never heard of someone bein molested by so many people all at one time! I kept gettin this thought in the bac of my mind lik dis sound lik its a worst male version of precious idk im still 50/50 on what he was sayin!
JUST MY OPINION DONT TAKE OFFENSE!
that is so sad…….. it made me want to cry so bad!!!!!!
Miss Perry, PUHLEAAAAAAAAZE!!!!!! Molested? Are you kidding me? I couldn’t stand your shady ass since the day I was introduced to you at the gay bar in Atlanta and you looked at me like I was satan, the damn devil! Girl, bye!
Smh….
AW yea ANGEL you forgot to say on November 5th they will have 200 molested men in the audience that want to come forth and let it be known…that shall b a show to see!
Dear Oprah,
I must first thank you for all of your wonderful shows and help throughout the years.
I would like Mr. Perry to know how much respect both my husband and I have for him.
We are truely blessed Mr. Perry survived his horrific childhood, I can not begin to say how much pleasure we have had from his moviies. He is truely a man of wisdom and talent. Please share this with Mr. Perry and Gods Blessings to both of you.
Debbie Merath
East Troy, WI
Thats just completely horrid.. the man from the church that molested him.. after Tyler became famous.. people from his home town contacted him to let him kniw that the man died… I think Tyler paid for the funeral service.. he has a gut wrenching story to tell… my heart goes out to him.. I was molested too and even though, as an adult, you think since its physcially over, you can move on.. so not true! But God is AWESOME and prayer changes things.. begins the healing part, that you have to do for yourself.
@ #7 forreal? Wow that’s pretty intense. I honestly don’t know how to respond to that.
That is very sad. My heart aches for any child that has endured that crime
@ 10 yup its gonna b on the oprah show on the november 5th she said it towards the end of the this episode!
Another celebrity opening up about his personal to sell a movie.
Oprah ALWAYS getting ratings from ppl’s drama. We all know Oprah and himself are very close friends and she knows his story already. Someone needs to interview Oprah, she also had a tough times and even had a child.
Im sure he was teased and bullied in school as ‘gay’ for some reason. Thank God he didnt commit suicide. Some ppl dont even deserve to be parents and some kids need to have their ass kicked (bullies and mean kids).
What I found interesting about this show was the dancing around the issue of the molestation and whether or not it influenced his sexuality. Tyler kept saying that the people who molested him gave him “something to carry….something that was not me/” and that he acted on his feelings until he realized that he no longer had to carry this burden. Its seemed as though he was talking about homosexual tendencies that he had as a result of the molestation. be careful, mr. perry. Being molested by a man doesn’t make you gay. ANd it would be disservice to homosexuals to imply that being gay is a psychological disorder resulting from trauma or that it is simply a choice. Accept who you are man. Its sad what happened to you, but if you were/are attracted to men then thats a separate issue from the molestation. Just my opinion.
I believe thats why hes a homosexual now
Not only are preachers/leaders of the church molesting lil boys, but they are molesting your souls as well, their is no way your soul can be nourished or grow into a healthy state with all that foolishness they are preaching!
Most churches are just extentions of night clubs! clapping and dancing with that fool in the v.i.p. (pull pit) holding the mic, keeping you drunk with tainted words!
Tyler and Oprah are such drama queens! Nobody wants to hear about him getting vacuumed off at the church. “[The man from church] used God and the Bible against me to justify a lot of the things that were going on.” What else was “going on”, Tyler? Drama 101.
“There are all these welts on [me], the flesh that’s coming from my bone…” That’s so suspect. Drama 1A.
Hell, I use to get my arse’ beat for three days and then told to dry the tears before I get a real reason to cry. lol I was only nine months old and I still remember that ish.
I didn’t see the show, but I’ve heard Tyler’s story many times on Oprah. Somebody must have canceled their appearance on the show, and she called her friend Tyler to fill in at the last moment. I’m waiting for the show with Gayle coming out of the closet dressed like one of the Village People. That will be the day.
Good job Tyler…that’s what friends are for.
Man I’m bout to be real again, my niggas….
Tyler Perry been gay for a long ass time. The dude lives in Atlanta, c’mon son. We all seen the Boondocks, but its sad that people that a cartoon had to be made to show people what he was about. Seeing this interview doesn’t surprise me ONE SINGLE BIT. But honestly, I’m glad that this nigga told this story about himself. Maybe then, these DL negroes can all come out and stop tormenting our women’s emotions so real niggas can step in and make them happy.
Society is turning increasingly Pro-Homosexual now, and I’m glad thats happening ’cause now these women know where they stand and can get with dudes that actually LIKE it when they put on their lingerie/makeup/perfume, haha. Now when Boris Kodjoe comes out the closet, I’ll be right there at the mall baggin chicks ’cause Armageddon is upon them.
I can no longer buy anything Lady T sells. As a wise person – I believe it was ole Abe Lincoln — once said… “You can fool some of the people all of the times, and all of the people some of the time but you can’t fool all of the people, all of the time.” This interview came across as completely inauthentic to me. And shame on Oprah for divesting herself of any and all journalistic responsibility and asking the ONE question on everyone’s mind. Hell, Oprah herself had to address very similar rumors. It will only be a matter of time before his decision to avoid touching upon the gay rumors at this opportune moment on Oprah’s couch comes back to haunt him. It’s 2010…. BE FREE LADY T!!!!
@ 17…I agree…
So does anyone have any proof that Tyler Perry’s homosexual? Seems like a lot of opinions to me. Any proof? Any pictures? Videos? Anything? Anyone?????
I agree with some of yall, this story was sad yes, and he brought his aunt as “proof” that something did go wrong… but something doesn’t sit right with me about this story. I truly think he is gay and always was gay. Not that it’s a big deal but I think if the day were to ever come where he “comes out” he would blame it on the molestation and say that is the reason for him being gay, his body betrayed him. #noshade it’s just my opinion. Like someone else said, too much molestation going on at one time. How can NO ONE hear or know about it? Many unanswered questions and some things about the interview just didn’t add up. If all these things did happen Lord help him and those Monsters, but I still don’t think it excuses the fact that he is an actual homosexual. Just my opinion, don’t bite my head off damn.
That’s why I say protect your children and never turn a blind eye. Children didn’t ask to be born into this cruel world. These pervert adults take advantage and lots of times the parent has no clue. Parents should be HEAVILY involved in their child’s lives at ALL times. This nasty mess happens way to often and goes unnoticed. Talk to your kids and build a strong trusted relationship with them so they won’t be afraid to tell you what’s going on. And watch everyone in your lives because 99.9% of child molesters are FAMILY members or FRIENDS of family. I don’t play that sh@! and I don’t put anything past anyone.
I do wish Oprah had asked him if he was gay but I knew she wouldn’t. She’ bias and dosen’t want to ”out” her friends. I like Tyler and I’m happy he shared his story. More men and black people need to start talking about this issue. Along with rape, mental illness and being gay.
@ 23 wtf i hate ppl who feel lik they need hard compied PROOF to see whats there. if u look at the interview and understand wat he’s sayin u can see he’s basically saying that he has homosexual tendencies because of this! stop takin offense and actually look at the interview!
Tyler kept talking about his “triggers,’ sounding real Mk-ultra-ish.
It’s sad to hear another person was molested as a child. However, all of this seems suspect to me. The timing of these revelations from these stars seems right in light of their new album, movie, tv show, etc. Mr/Mrs. Perry–Madea is now a grown man with untold access to psychologists, psychiatrists, therapists or what ever and chooses to unleash on Oprah, his best friend? I don’t buy it. Also, I wonder if this is a precursor of more revelations from Tyler, Oprah, and Gayle? BTW, Okra and Gayle went on a camping trip together and didn’t invite Stedman? Hmmmmmm
@LEO
Yes, it is MK Ultra programming! The Nazi’s experiemented on kids to alter their personalities, they were studying the brain and how you can control another human without them knowing. When a child is being tramatized their brain sections off into different senerios, this is why Tyler speaks of going to the park in his head… this is a way of programming. Many adults/kids dont know they have been molested until they are triggered, it could be a smell, visual, or sound that brings that memory. Alot of times its done to babies, because when started earlier in life people are easier to control and one stops fighting. This is said to have been done to many celebs, they were programmed at an early age, its worse for women because they become more sexually advanced and able to use that as a weapon. What comes to mind is Jessica Simpson and her father, Beyonce and her father, Miley Cyrus and her father, Britney Spears and her father… we never know what goes on.
@16 I myself was molested by a male as a child and it does wreak havoc on you, and make you feel less than. It make you question whether or not you’re homosexual. And unless you’ve been molested you can’t speak on what you don’t know. Being molested can open up a whole can of worms, it can make you promiscious, and can turn you into the homo or lesbian, it can do a lot of things.
I myself am not a homosexual and it took some years of prayer and counseling to break the bondage that molestation put me through. It is a horrible nasty thing, but to make the statement you made is irresponsible. I can identify with him on how it made me feel.
@16 I myself was molested by a male as a child and it does wreak havoc on you, and make you feel less than. It make you question whether or not you’re homosexual. And unless you’ve been molested you can’t speak on what you don’t know. Being molested can open up a whole can of worms, it can make you promiscious, and can turn you into the homo or lesbian, it can do a lot of things.
I myself am not a homosexual and it took some years of prayer and counseling to break the bondage that molestation put me through. It is a horrible nasty thing, but to make the statement you made is irresponsible. I can identify with him on how it made me feel.
@ D
So you know him and you know what he’s saying? I doubt it. As if you can read him like you know him personally. All I’m saying is accusing someone of being homosexual is a pretty serious charge in a generally homophobic country like the U.S. So one should prove it before they just rely on their feelings about what someone is saying.
This was such a good show!! I can’t even begin to say how powerful this will be for so many men. I really like him now, so strong and wise and free!
To all the men and women who have been molested, I pray you find the peace you need to move foward in your life. You are so much better than what you’ve experienced. Be blessed!
WTF i NEVER said i knew him personally and u dont hav to kno someone personally to understand WTF their tryin to say LMAO IM DONE IM DONE! LMAO i never said he was HOMO i said he basically sayin he has homosexual tendencies SMH!
I really hate what happened to Tyler but I dont think going on Oprah was the thing to do. I think people will always see him differently and those gay rumors are only gonna get worse.
Yo real talk fuck oprah that bitch could give a flying fuck about what happened to TP she just trying to get ratings ol greedy ass bitch
God bless him, nobody deserves to be taken advantage of–ESPECIALLY an innocent child. So many people and their opinions on here, my goodness. It’s easy to assume from the outside when the truth is you don’t have a clue in hell.
Surely being molested by the same sex can affect your sexuality *especially* male-male molestation. Sex/sexual contact is a pleasurable experience, it feels like nothing else, and to experience that with a man you can become conditioned and therefore attracted to men. Because obviously, you know what being with a man feels like before you even have a taste of a woman. Black folks don’t believe in counseling and all that is too much for a child to work through alone. Just a mess.
Hold your children close and love them and protect them. I couldn’t even watch the video. After I read the interview, I was disgusted. That poor child. Money and success can’t heal those wounds
The audacity of some of you who are saying he’s trying to promote movies is a bit ridiculous…he is the #2 male moneymaker, he doesn’t NEED anymore money, publicity, etc. it seemed to me that he has so much internalized & just wants to release it from him…& whether he’s gay or not shouldn’t matter, he was just giving his background story on abuse….he is a stand-up guy.
Was Tyler really all that SEXY as a Kid???
NEXT!!!!
While I’m not sure if TP’s being on Oprah goes hand-in-hand with the release of his movie, “For Colored Girls…,” I am sure that just beczuse he’s the #2 male noneymaker in Hollywood doesn’t mean he’s going to be okay to just sit back and let his movie fail. So going on Oprah seems like a smart move to me. Doesn’t she reach like millions of people? Not saying he wasn’t being authentic but I agree with the notion that he’s rich and certainly can afford psychiatrist, psychologists, etc. I really think he should have waited to air this because he wasn’t ready to reveal all and BOTH he and Oprah skirted around the homosexual aspect. While I’m happy for him that he UNBOXED those feelings, I think he should have been more direct concerning the homosexual part. In the end, I still support him.
Abuse will give you something to carry. Homosexuality can result from sexual abuse whether you like it or not. Where is your proof it isnt? So dont say its not a possibility. People are not born gay because that would be a contradiction to God’s words. Why would God say sodomy is wrong but have people born to commit it. Again this is nothing but making gay sins superior to heterosexual sins. It would be unfair for God to punish anyone heterosexual and overlook the sins of gays and say they were born that way. We were all born as sinners, if you break one commandment, you break them all. Whatever happens to a person especially bad is something to for them to carry and influences their thought, ideas, and whole being, which is why the formative years are very important. This is why you cant let folk that havent been through crap judge you, they dont know what the…they are talking about and make your testimony out to be bogus. Keep telling your story Tyler and Oprah, you are helping so many closeted abuse victims in the black community. This is why we suffer so much, because the black community can be so closed minded and full of religiosity. The suspicion about his motives just like the Eddie Long alleged victims. Tyler dont need to use this to sell movies or else he would have dont it long time ago, he became the second highest earner in Hollywood before this, so what you talking. Like he said, he did not want his mother to relive the pain or guilt, so he waited until after her death. I dont care about him struggling with homosexuality because it was put on him by men who were struggling with theirs and passed it onto a defenseless child. They should have kept it to themselves, they could masturbate or get a grown man, dont have to force it onto someone else, no excuses for it. But if folk dont repent, eveything they did to a child or anyone will become their fate in hades forever and ever. Saving up for yourselves in the afterlife, what you do to the innocent, so we dont get away with it if unrepentant and saved by God.
As far as the homosexual part that have people wondering, what I got from the interview was that he had tendencies perhaps up to his 20′s and then came to a realization I guess that, that was not him. I really don’t know but I got that it was up to his 20′s that he struggled with who he really is.
I love Tyler even more, to see his love for his mother and the fact he is trying to take care of his father that still have an abusive spirit with his most recent comments to Tyler. I am so glad he clarified the difference between forgiveness and relationship. You can forgive someone but if they continue to willingly engage in an abusive spirit toward you, even as an adult, you have the right to not participate in that and still have forgiveness for them. God did not mandate relationship in this situation. Just like with Monique’s situation. But religiosity folk will tell you you have to have relationship with the abuser and they are no where around when you do deal with the that abusive person. No where to be found and make you out to be more evil than the abuser for not wanting to be around their continued abuse. They are more concerned with what sounds religious to say because they are concerned about their selfish desire for religious points. Because that same religious person will disassociate themselves with folk that do them harm, but they call it guarding their heart, what about your heart?. You can honor your parents outside relationship as Tyler is showing, this is so liberating to alot people that have been in bondage by this. Abusive parents take advantage of this commandment as a guilt trip toward their kids and they just act any old way. But we all belong to God and will have to answer to him about our treatment of the kids he blessed us to have in the first place. Dont want to be around when his father tells God what he told Tyler. Love you Tyler, Monique, and Oprah!
I myself, am a very huge Tyler Perry fan, I’ve followed the man’s career since day one.And honestly, that interview changes nothing about how I feel for this man’s talent.So, haters…hate on, I’am sure Tyler will be crying from your comments all the damn way to the bank…LOL…HAHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHHAHHAHHAAHHHAHHAHAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I honestly think Tyler Perry is either bi-sexual or a-sexual (lives like a monk). He may not have sex with men anymore since he decided that wasn’t the type of life he wanted to live. But I think he probably still has some sort of attraction to men and suppresses it. I think he genuinely wants to be “normal” and be a straight man – he said during the interview that he wants to be a father one day. I’m sure he wants to be married to woman and live a heterosexual life, but the woman he marries has to know that he will have intimacy issues and at anytime could say, I want some dick. It’s sad what happened to him as a kid. I’m glad he turned his life around and used his past experiences and talent to become a success. I applaud him for revealing his “truth.”
fuck those who trespass others without a damn a feeling of content
A bunch of bitter ass queens commenting on here. I knew some of you twisted minded nuts were going to read too much into his interview with Oprah. Some of you DIDN”T even watch the show so how can you have an opinion on something you didn’t witness. Gay or not, the man was molested as a child by some VERY sick individuals, PERIOD.
I commend Tyler Perry for sharing his story. Maybe it can help somebody who is currently experiencing such turmoil.
@Atlanta Georgia – You are the definition of a H8TER. Someone has the courage to express pain and you exploit your own sexual needs. You’re just mad cause he wasn’t interested in you.
This is the problem that so many men have and will not come forward for it. Accusations of homosexuality are the first thing people want to say about anyone that talks. A victim is not responsible for commiting the crime against themselves, especially a child. If you can’t process an intelligent thought then DO NOT COMMENT. People need help or the cycle continues and more children are molested. So stop blaming and start understanding and supporting.
Sexual predators prey on the weak and those looking for acceptance. If TP’s father was as abusive as described, he probably did look for approval and closeness and love from men who happened to be perverted and took advantage of a little boy seeking a closeness with a grown male, perhaps as a father figure sort. I don’t know or care if the man is gay – I know I enjoy his work and I am so sad to hear this story — however, this story is not new. He talked about this many months ago when Precious was released. I understand the thought about this being released near a release date for his movie, but I must share a journalistic secret: As a top movie producer with a movie coming out, I would be interested in contacting TP for a movie. Yes, Oprah has a different angle that she is taking, but all of these reporters have jobs to do and many of them have orders to “cover” who is making news. Perry is coming off a blockbuster year and making a movie called For Colored Girls! Contrversey, blockbuster movie, personal drama – the ingredients for high ratings – it’s not all TP’s doing. Go ‘head TP!
*contacting TP for an interview
@ 16, molestation messes with your psyche AND can certainly influence sexual preference. Donnie McClurkin, Queen Latifah, Ellen etc…were ALL molested and are all sexually attracted to or were attracted to the same sex; it has an effect whether people want to realize it or not.
Horrible circumstances TP had to deal with and I am glad that he rose above it.
Grown ass black dude traumatized at getting whipped by his pops as a kid. Please. You were raised by Joe Jackson but somehow got molested in church. Which one is it Tyler?
If you’re gonna be gay, be gay and STFU.
Dead @ #40
now things are making more sense
WOW…Tyler deeply is in pain never knew that but all I got to say is for those that go to church you better watch your chil’rens…seems like a common thing now in there!
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