Tyler Perry on Jackson: ‘Give the family room to breathe’
Tyler Perry
Atlanta film director Tyler Perry phoned into Q100’s The Bert Show Friday morning to discuss his thoughts on Michael Jackson’s passing and pleaded for fans and the media to give the Jackson family “respect and room to grieve.”
Perry is set to direct Jackson’s younger sister Janet Jackson here in the sequel to his 2007 hit “Why Did I Get Married?”
Perry confirmed that Jackson was on her way to Atlanta to begin production on the film Thursday when she got word of her brother’s death. Her plane was immediately re-routed to Los Angeles, Perry said.
“i spoke to her yesterday,” Perry said. “She’s a wonderful, wonderful, wonderful girl. There’s no pretense. She’s a regular, beautiful human being. I just ask that people pray for her and her family.”
Perry came out swinging when discussing the media coverage of Jackson’s death that contains regurgitations of the singer’s well-covered trial on child molestation charges.
“These are human beings, they’re human beings,” Perry said. “I wouldn’t wish the level of fame he achieved on my worst enemy. I am so disgusted, that, with every great thing that’s being said about him, there’s a million negative things being said. Why can’t it just be about his legacy rather than the tarnished part of what he was acquitted for? It bothers me that this is the focus.”
Added Perry: “Growing up as a kid who was molested, I am never, ever going to be a defender of a molester. But the truth of the matter is, the man was acquitted. And I have seen first-hand what people will do for money.”
Perry added: “I hope that people wil just send up a prayer for his family. Even though they’re famous these are regular human beings. if you cut them, they bleed. Having to deal with all this negativity is hard.”
The Atlanta film director and studio owner dismissed co-host Bert Weiss‘ theory that father Joe Jackson is solely to blame for his son’s complicated life.
“I disagree with you,” said Perry. “I went through a lot of things with my father. Things I did not deserve as a kid. Things that he said to me, did to me. But it didn’t make me become something other than what i am right now. There comes a point in your life, that no matter who you are, you begin to find yourself.”
Perry says there’s no way for the general public to know what it was like to be as famous as Jackson. Perry said, even at his level of fame (in the past year, Perry himself has had to deal with a stalker) life can be complicated.
“You don’t know what’s true. You absolutely, one hundred percent do not know what’s true. I don’t think there’s ever been a person that famous. Elvis and The Beatles were huge. but Michael came along at a time when there was video which made him more famous. Now, the next person who comes along with Twitter and Facebook and all that stuff, they’ll be even more famous because it’s instant.
Added Perry: “it’s expensive to be that famous. You don’t ask for the crazy people. I didn’t ask for the stalker or the situation I’m dealing with now. I didn’t ask for the thousands of dollars I’ve spent on attorneys and the hundreds of thousands of dollars I’ve spent on security. It’s a part of the business you’re in. Hear me clearly. I’m not asking for sympathy for him or anyone else because there’s a great up side to it. But there’s also a major, major down side to every bit of this.”
Perry also disclosed that he was discussing creating some animation for Jackson’s upcoming London concerts. The two were supposed to speak in the coming week about the project.
For now, Perry requested: “Respect the moment and give the family room to breathe.”
Perry also indicated that the “Why Did I Get Married Too?” shoot with Janet Jackson will proceed.
Said Perry: “Whenever she comes back to work, she’ll have everything she needs.”
Tasha Smith (as Angela), Janet Jackson (as Patricia) and Sharon Leal (as Dianne) in a scene from "Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married?"
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27 comments Add your comment
Lazy-B
June 26th, 2009
11:00 am
“Why can’t it just be about his legacy rather than the tarnished part of what he was acquitted for? It bothers me that this is the focus.”
uh no…one cant just inhale only the “good” as it were. When being considered for a job does not yo employer take into account the entire history?
Nice try Tyler. I suggest you be more concerned with your own self and also improving those silly stinkbomb movie’s and stinkcoms for which you are paid.
*POOT* *FLUSH*
JenSter
June 26th, 2009
11:33 am
Um, you FLUSH after you POOT?
FB
June 26th, 2009
11:56 am
Yes, your employer does take into account of your entire histroy, but they could care less about a crime you were aquitted for. You are assumed innocent until proven guilty. He was never proven guilty, so in other words he is still innocent.
Robert Morton
June 26th, 2009
12:04 pm
Think that headline should read “breathe.” “Breath” is the stuff you exhale. Just sayin’…
OJ
June 26th, 2009
12:11 pm
In this movie is Janet gonna expose herself again? Im in prison so I need all the eye-candy I can get.
Milton
June 26th, 2009
12:19 pm
he was guilty, he just paid everyone off to keep their mouth shut. sad for him though.
FB
June 26th, 2009
12:23 pm
Were you there Milton? Did you see any money exhange. The man was too broke to pay his attorneys. How could he pay anyone else?
CJ
June 26th, 2009
12:41 pm
Tell you what – you all take your 8 year old, pick him up by one foot, shake him and beat him. Day after day.
This is what Michael Jackson endured from his father Joe. It’s well publicized. If that happened to you, then there is no telling how you would have turned out.
Unfortunately for Michael Jackson, he was living in a bubble surrounded by people just waiting to ride his coattails and take his money. They knew he was mentally off, but did nothing about it. They let him live in his la-la land and never got him help. The blame goes on all of them!
Tito Jackson
June 26th, 2009
12:48 pm
NO…the blame rests squarely on Michaels timid little shoulders. The weight of a guilty conscience is what killed him. RIP my Brother.
PS…My comeback album will be goin on sale this autumn, be sure to pick up 2 of them.
ncgirl
June 26th, 2009
1:08 pm
Please let MJ rest in peace. He certainly didn’t have any here on earth. I agree with Mr. Perry, respect the man and his family and let them grieve and find comfort in God. No one knows what is truly happening in the Jackson family and frankly it’s not our business. They can’t help who they are, but they do bleed and they are human beings. God bless the Jackson family and I hope they find the doctor that supposedly gave MJ an injection just yesterday.
Pastor Mane
June 26th, 2009
1:11 pm
hmmmm wonder what will be said when I die? No matter what you have done or have been accused of doing, no matter how much positive things you do, so one will always hold on to the negative. Life is test and death is a celebration of that test. We need to celebrate the life of a Unique and wonderful person. Mr. Jackson was a wonderful person. What will be said when YOU die? Live a life that worth dying for!!!!!!!!1
GAPeach
June 26th, 2009
1:18 pm
I absolutely loved MJ!
Yes he was eccentric and strange at times but he was a great entertainer. He was eccentric because he could afford to do and buy things that the average person couldn’t. But none of this takes away from his talent and how he changed the world. In bringing up the molestation charges, no one has talked about him befriending a boy that had been outcast due to no fault of his own, Ryan White. Ryan was a boy that contracted AIDS from a blood transfusion but was shunned by his entire community. The immature posters will say MJ only befriended Ryan so that he could touch him. MJ was tried and found innocent of molestation charges. If your child was being molested and you had a chance to take the molester to court…could you be bought off or would you want the molester to serve jail time for taking your child’s innocence. These parents were more than happy to take MJ’s money.
I pray for MJ and his family.
Patrick
June 26th, 2009
1:21 pm
Albeit his latest actions and the whole child molestation fiasco, I have to have respect for the man. Here was a person who grew up in the poorest side of town, had parents that were abusive, both physically and psychologically/emotionally, and yet he managed to crawl out of the rubble and become what he was. Most people who would have endured such pain would not have become as successful as he is, or obtain any level of success.
While his father did beat him, and pushed him and the other kids beyond their limit to perform, he knew something the kids didn’t know: They could do better than their best. That’s why even after having moved out of the house, they still managed to succeed, especially Michael and Janet. Their albums made them millions. They’ve appeared on countless TV shows, magazines, radio programs, and everything else. Their songs have sat at #1 on the charts for countless weeks.
I think the reason why Michael had all the childhood stuff was because, well, he never had a “real” childhood. His parents couldn’t afford to buy them all the toys they wanted, nor did they take them to places like the amusement park, the circus, the zoo, or anywhere else most kids like to go and are able to go to.
The problem with celebrity deaths is that more often than not, that’s when the dirty laundry gets aired. It’s bad enough to have it out while they’re still alive, but once they’ve died, there’s no holds barred.
Kingsford
June 26th, 2009
1:25 pm
Tupac, Lucifer and Michael Jackson –>
BBQ’ ing Together for All Eternity
Lee
June 26th, 2009
1:34 pm
Seems like the AJC always has Tyler Perry’s opinion on things near or far …obsession !
SoulSearching
June 26th, 2009
1:54 pm
No man knows the day or the hour that we will leave this place. Are you prepared to meet your creator? Let us think on this and make a change in our lives before it’s too late.
M Anthony
June 26th, 2009
2:13 pm
Wow so much hate for MJ on here. I imagine their life must be that bad to feel like that. What a way to live your life.
Andrea
June 26th, 2009
2:33 pm
Unless your name is J-E-S-U-S and your father’s name is G-O-D then you have no authority to judge anyone. Once a person has left this earth they deserve peace not more drama. Those of you who continue to disrespect the dead are blatantly demonstrating the blackness of your heart and soul. Leave the dead alone they can do no harm!
RODRJ32
June 26th, 2009
2:50 pm
Kingsford where do you get off making a statement like that? Are you God? You have no respect for human life or are you just some red neck, trailor trash, that is still living in the dark ages. Despite what you may think Michael Jackson did a whole lot for man kind. Can you say the same? Probably not. Run on down to Piggly Wiggly and get your daily six pack of Pabst Blue Ribbon. Red neck.
Myrhanda
June 26th, 2009
3:05 pm
I fell in love with the Jackson Five when I first saw them on the Ed Sullivan show. Michael was the smallest and cutest entertainer that I had ever seen. I am not surprised by his legacy that he leaves behind. My heartfelt sympathy for the Jackson family may god wrap his shield of healing around the Jacksons in their dificult time.
ann
June 26th, 2009
3:09 pm
Michael was a genius, an eccentric as are all geniuses. He had a warm and loving heart and I hope his children grow up knowing he was loved.
Tupack Shaker
June 26th, 2009
3:09 pm
We must remember Michael Jackson for what he was. He reached the highest highs (he was a Superstar) and the lowest lows (he was a child molester). The use of the term dachotomy is an understatement at best.
We will remember you Michael as a singer of songs and a molester of young males.
Good luck MJ!!
Becky
June 26th, 2009
3:11 pm
Rest in peace Michael..
Forever an MJ fan
June 26th, 2009
4:07 pm
How come nobody blames the parent(s) who might have let their kid sleep in the bed with a grown man simply because of his fame? I never believed MJ did this anyway and he was acquitted so leave him be.
Michael you are loved and will be missed forever! Praying for the Jackson family and his children that they find peace. RIP Michael Jackson, you finally can do so.
Daily News Feed 6.29.2009/Vocab: clandestine | Clutch Magazine: The Digital Magazine for the Young, Contemporary Woman of Color
June 29th, 2009
1:49 pm
[...] Tyler Perry on Jackson: ‘Give the Family Room to Breathe’ Atlanta film director Tyler Perry phoned into Q100’s The Bert Show Friday morning to discuss his thoughts on Michael Jackson’s passing and pleaded for fans and the media to give the Jackson family “respect and room to grieve.” Perry is set to direct Jackson’s younger sister Janet Jackson here in the sequel to his 2007 hit “Why Did I Get Married?” Perry confirmed that Jackson was on her way to Atlanta to begin production on the film Thursday when she got word of her brother’s death. Her plane was immediately re-routed to Los Angeles, Perry said. “I spoke to her yesterday,” Perry said. “She’s a wonderful, wonderful, wonderful girl. There’s no pretense. She’s a regular, beautiful human being. I just ask that people pray for her and her family.” (Continue Reading…) [...]
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