Tyler Perry Addresses Spike Lee ‘Madea’ Criticism with Chris Wallace

Tyler Perry has lengthy been dogged over his signature character, Madea, and stereotypes some really feel she upholds — however he is defending himself … particularly in opposition to Spike Lee.

The film studio mogul sat for an interview with Chris Wallace as a part of his new program on HBO Max — “Who’s Speaking to Chris Wallace” — which was scrapped from CNN+ … and repurposed on their primary streaming app.

Chris asks Tyler a couple of criticism that Lee as soon as lobbed in opposition to him in describing his Madea films — wherein he referred to as the character and/or these films “coonery buffoonery” in ’09.

From Spike’s POV … Madea is a caricature of Black folks, ladies specifically, and he thinks it is an inexpensive, over-the-top impersonation that Tyler has monetized with a number of success. There are no less than 10 films of his wherein the character seems.

Whereas TP was as soon as quoted as saying Spike can “go to hell,” he is a bit extra nuanced in explaining why he loves the character and the considering behind her make-up. He says Madea represents ladies he grew up round, whose tales he needed to convey in a humorous method … with reality sprinkled in. In different phrases, he appears to see it as an homage.

Tyler additionally invokes Langston Hughes and the Harlem Renaissance to bolster his level … noting this convo has been occurring method earlier than Spike’s salvo.

Now, it ought to be famous … this previous beef, whereas nonetheless mentioned at present, appears to be lengthy and buried. Again in 2019, when Tyler opened his film studio lot in Georgia, Spike was truly among the many many well-known friends who got here to test it out. And TP even named one of many sound phases after him … telling us on the time that his legacy was greater than their feud.