The African-American entertainment community has been not-so-quietly bubbling about
director Tyler Perry’s decision to cast reality TV star Kim Kardashian in the upcoming movie, The Marriage Counselor. The obvious irony of the film title aside; purportedly Tyler fans generally and Black actresses specifically are none-too-pleased how Kardashian has further entrenched herself in African-American culture.
Actress and television personality Holly Robinson Peete, while not personally disparaging the Perry decision, did breathe more life into the criticism with recent public remarks on Access Hollywood.
We can always count on Tyler Perry to give a blacktress a job. So all across the world blacktresses are upset.
“No, it’s [an] amazing PR move. It’s actually pretty smart and the timing is great. Like her brand, this drama will be good for the film. So, it’s actually kind of brilliant in a way… I don’t have any problems with it.”
At the risk of over-analyzing Peete’s remarks, Mo’Kelly is a bit confused after reading them.
Are we to lend more credence to the angst of the multitude of Black actresses (Blacktresses) worldwide or the fact that this singular Blacktress is ok with Perry’s casting? To whom should we pay more attention?
Let’s take Holly Robinson Peete at her word. Her connections and sphere of influence relative to Black actresses can’t be argued. If she says that there is voluminous criticism related to casting Kim Kardashian, Mo’Kelly is comfortable taking her at her word.
There now seems to be a bit of hypocrisy in the criticism of Perry by both Black actresses and his general fan base. If you are a fan of Perry, your fandom is inextricably linked to the idea that Perry makes films the way he wants to make them; without deference to any supposed higher calling or ethnic loyalty. You can’t be a fan of Perry and simultaneously be on the front lines battling Black film stereotypes. It’s an either/or proposition. If you are a Perry fan, then you willingly carry all of his associated baggage. Conversely, if you are adamant in advocating quality Black film or casting quality Black actresses, then that heavy baggage is yours to carry as well. It is an irreconcilable contradiction to suggest one can be both. They are simply mutually exclusive in nature.
The fact of the matter is that Perry has not changed. If he has been anything, he has been wholly consistent. Tyler Perry is still making those decisions which financially best benefit his brand, his business and ultimately his bottom line. He never pre-promised all of his roles to Black women any more than he pre-promised a limit on how many times he would don a dress as Madea.
If you as a “fan” were comfortable with Perry’s artistic freedom up until now, then don’t get brand new over Kim Kardashian. The fans (and Black actresses) who were quite vocal in their support of Perry don’t get to move the goal posts now because Kim Kardashian “offends” them. You “fans” were just fine giggling and ghetto cosigning with Al Sharpton
when he characterized Perry detractors as “Proper Negroes”…as if being being proper in any way is ever worthy of ridicule.
Film director Malcolm Lee has said that Perry “isn’t interested in art,” questioning the commitment of Perry to mastering his craft. Spike Lee has long beat the drum that Perry has done African-Americans a cinematic disservice. Tyler Perry fans weren’t having any of it. Tyler Perry fans called the family Lee “haters,” jealous and the like.
But now the core fans are up in arms, suggesting that Perry is now being disloyal to Black actresses? The “Proper Negroes” have long been clear on how Perry perceives himself, his work and eventual legacy. The “Proper Negroes” were in no way disturbed about Kim Kardashian taking the place of a Kimberly Elise, a Kerry Washington, a Gabrielle Union, a Regina King, or some other lesser-known, higher-qualified Black actress. To the “Proper Negroes,” Tyler was just being Tyler. The Proper Negroes are now laughing loudly at the angry Tyler Perry fans.
Not laughing with them but at them.
Perry fans are doing their best “Proper Negroes” impression. But nobody is suggesting that either their complaints are unfounded or rooted in jealousy and haterism. Therein lies the hypocrisy.
The common argument in support of Perry has been long connected to the idea of how
many Black people he puts to work, on and off the screen. The common rebuttal is that the imagery on the screen will long outlast any paycheck cashed connected to a movie’s creation.
Soul Plane temporarily put Black actresses to work too. Does anyone remember who or how many? No, but we all surely remember how far it still has set all African-Americans back in a cinematic sense.
Strip clubs put struggling Black “actresses” to work daily. It’s never been just about putting Black actresses to work, it’s about responsibility in how paychecks are generated. The “Proper Negroes” already understood this to be true. Tyler Perry fans instead want to pick and choose when cinematic responsibility is important. The selective outrage is quite hilarious.
If Black actresses and Tyler Perry fans in general wish for the multimedia mogul to consider the implied messages casting Kim Kardashian sends to Black people and beyond; congratulations…you have just joined the “Proper Negroes” club…whether intended or not.
Tyler Perry hasn’t betrayed or fooled any of his fans. You’ve fooled yourselves. Perry in a cinematic sense showed you who he was long ago. It’s your fault if you didn’t believe him.
The Mo’Kelly Report is a syndicated politics and entertainment journal. Visit https://mrmokelly.com for the latest from Mr. Mo’Kelly. Contact him at [email protected].
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6 responses to “Tyler Perry Fans Turn into ‘Proper Negroes’ Over Kardashian Casting”
I’ll take proper. I rather like the term actually… The one area I have consistently given TP props? Business sense. You don’t go from living in a car to earning more money in one year than Beyonce and Jay-Z combined with good frickin business sense. Casting KK was a marketing move designed to get butts in the seats. Mad at him? For what? I wasn’t paying my money to see the flick before he cast her. I damn sure ain’t changed my mind just because he did.
*without… *without good frickin business sense. 🙂
Agreed. Casting K.K. makes good business sense and opens TP up to an audience probably not checking for him up until now. K.K. has rabid, loyal fans who support everything she does.
That beats anyone he could have cast instead. He is reaching out to develop a broader audience. It has never been about Black folks, it’s been about business.
The TP fans who defended him so vociferously in the past need to be consistent, because TP surely is.
Just business.
It seems to be forgotten that highest-quality “Blacktresses” (I like that term) such as Cicely Tyson and Angela Bassett have appeared in Perry films, as has the notable Maya Angelou. Tyson and Bassett long ago both declared that they would not accept demeaning roles, hence, Bassett turned down the role in Monsters Ball that Halle Berry won an Oscar for.
I am more disappointed about Perry casting KK because she has no talent and just made a huge mockery of marriage, which I believe is sacred. However, you cannot deny the strategic brilliance of this move.
One of my responses to criticisms of Perry has been that the other people are not watching, so why are we even worried about reinforcing stereotypes (not that I agree this is what Perry’s work has done). I may not be able to argue this point anymore.
Love your articles Mo, and as I always say, keep it coming!
Jetta…brilliant analysis. What we could be seeing here is Perry turning a corner. Yes, he has given work to some of the most talented Blacktresses of all time. And no, no one of such caliber may be interested in the direction Perry is now going.
Of course, there are plenty of Blacktresses of a lesser-known variety who probably don’t care what direction Perry is going, just want to get on or stay on the Perry train.
But yes, Perry is trying to reach new audiences and further mainstream (if I may make that word into a verb) his brand.
From a business decision standpoint, I absolutely get it. Her fans are loyal and support everything she does. It wasn’t like she is appearing in a lot of movies as it is, so of course her fan base will be right there to support her.
But also to your point, I’m not so sure Cicely Tyson or Maya Angelou would appreciate this new direction and that much I implied in the piece. You can’t be on the front lines fighting for quality Black film and also be a Tyler Perry fan. This truth becomes even more evident now. You can’t defend Perry in many ways and his most loyal supporters now get it.
Perry may be trading some of his Black audience for a White one. I will not see anything with KK in it, sorry Tyler.