Spike Lee: “No more Tyler Perry questions”
Do not ask Spike Lee about Tyler Perry.
“No more Tyler Perry questions, please,” Lee said during a Thursday visit with KISS 104.1 host Art Terrell, after listeners called in asking about past dust-ups between the two filmmakers.
In the past, Lee has criticized Perry’s work, and Perry has responded suggesting that Lee travel south — way south — in search of warmer temperatures, if you get our meaning.
But enough of that.
“Peace and love, leave it at that,” Lee said Thursday. He was in town promoting his latest movie, “Red Hook Summer,” which opens in Atlanta on Aug. 24.
Click here for a link to a video of Lee’s visit.
The film, which opened Friday in New York, concerns young Flik Royale (Jules Brown), who leaves his middle-class Atlanta home for a summer with his grandfather Bishop Enoch Rouse (Clarke Peters) in Brooklyn’s Red Hook housing projects. Flik holds up his iPad 2 as a sort of shield against the world; the Bishop does the same thing with the Bible. (The two wireless devices are about the same size, you know).
Spike Lee with Condace Pressley, assistant program director of AM750 and 95.5FM News/Talk WSB.
Lee directed, produced, co-wrote (with James McBride) and reprised his role as Mr. Mookie the pizza deliverer in the film.
“Hollywood wants to make a gazillion dollars on every film,” Lee said, explaining the decision to finance it himself. “They’re not going to take a few pennies.”
“Red Hook Summer” does have its comic moments, mostly thanks to sassy Chazz Morningstar (Toni Lysaith) and the tippling Deacon Zee (Thomas Jefferson Byrd), but things take a somber turn in a hurry when dark secrets from the past begin to emerge.
“I do think there’s a place for a film like this,” Lee said. “I know people want to go see ‘Batman,’ want to go see ‘The Avengers.’ This is going to be a film for people to chew on and debate.”
Given that Lee was born in Atlanta and attended Morehouse College, we asked if he might consider shooting a future movie down here. Thanks to tax incentives, Georgia’s film industry has been flourishing in recent years. Answer: maybe so.
“I would like to shoot here again,” he said.
- Jennifer Brett/The Buzz/jbrett@ajc.com
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134 comments Add your comment
Mikeal
August 13th, 2012
2:39 pm
I liked when he played beside John Travolta in Pulp Fiction, but that was about it…
Willie McTell
August 13th, 2012
2:39 pm
So if Hollywood has an agenda to sterotype black people, then who’s behind the music industry?
Pam
August 13th, 2012
2:39 pm
If I was Spike, I know I’d be irritated that everytime my name comes up someobdy else is bringing up Tyler Perry. That would piss me the fkuc off to mention that drag queen everytime I put out a new movie product
Penny
August 13th, 2012
2:52 pm
Delta is ready when I am?
Clever use of a 1980’s slogan.
Almost as clever as your use of 1950’s slogans.
And 1850’s textbooks.
The point I was making was that Atlanta is what it is, which is what it has become. You can’t change it back. You can make it dumber by being here and commenting on stuff, but you can’t make it not be a chocolate city.
I will take Delta many times this year, but I will not be leaving Atlanta for good anytime soon. Aside from all the ignorant bigots it really is a nice place.
sharon
August 13th, 2012
2:53 pm
I agree with everythingJeff said @11:04. There is enough room in the business for both of them. I was really disappointed in Spike Lee when he fell into the trap and start trashing Tyler. To be honest the only movie Spike ever made that I liked was Malcolm X. Everything else was garbage to in my opinion.
sharon
August 13th, 2012
2:54 pm
Good for Spike for saying no more Tyler Perry questions
Tracy Jordan
August 13th, 2012
3:17 pm
lol, I just got you all fired up and acknowledge my post. Thanks for responding sport!
Paul
August 13th, 2012
3:23 pm
Let’s not come to the conclusion just because a man has more money he has created the better product.
Kay
August 13th, 2012
4:09 pm
I don’t care for most of Tyler Perry’s films or his TV shows myself but I DO like Tyler Perry himself. He appears to be a decent man and found a way to make a name for himself in Hollywood. Spike Lee also is rich and prominent in that tough industry–and has NO reason to be angry. Tyler Perry isnt the worst of offenders when is comes to stereotyping Black people. Why doesnt Spike pick on those gangster rappers who glorify crime and degrade women? They’ve been around way too long.
Spike Lee: No More Tyler Perry Questions | Postedlife.com
August 13th, 2012
4:40 pm
[...] more Tyler Perry questions, please,” Lee told KISS 104.1 callers asking about Perry. “Peace and love, leave it at [...]
LCDawg
August 13th, 2012
5:15 pm
Tyler Perry is a minstrel humorist nuff said.
Spike Lee Is Tired Of Being Asked About Tyler Perry | 97.9 The Box
August 13th, 2012
6:07 pm
[...] Lee, who is promoting his Red Hook Summer release, was being interviewed by host Art Terrell, onAtlanta’s KISS 104.1 radio station, when the Perry questions came up. “No more Tyler Perry questions, please,” he [...]
Penny
August 13th, 2012
6:08 pm
Actually I was responding to Tim. You’re either boring and unoriginal or just lazy.
But you sure had me worked up! Whew!
Andre
August 13th, 2012
6:14 pm
These two bicker like a couple of old hens.
Andre
August 13th, 2012
6:46 pm
And I’m referring to Penny and Tim.
Jason
August 13th, 2012
6:55 pm
Spike Lee is the black Mel Gibson, stuck funding his own films because of alledged anti semitic retoric in his films. Smart move Spikey.
Spike Lee On ‘Red Hook Summer’ Goals, Brooklyn and Politics – Huffington Post « Abolish Pest Control Serving Red Hook, Brooklyn, New York
August 13th, 2012
7:22 pm
[...] York Daily NewsRed Hook Summer: Another Bloated Mess From Spike LeeInternational Business TimesSpike Lee: “No more Tyler Perry questions”Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog)New York Times -MTV.com -The Star-Ledger – [...]
Big Roc
August 13th, 2012
11:53 pm
Why can’t we love both. The thought provoking movies and the Coonery movies. Why are we always against each other. Let them both do their own thing and make their own money. I’m proud of both men!!!!
steppin fletcher
August 14th, 2012
3:45 am
http://black-face.com/blackface-actors.htm
NEWSFLASH! Don’t Ask Spike Lee About Tyler Perry…
August 14th, 2012
5:32 am
[...] Perry already told y’all to “Let That Sh*t Go!” but according to the AJC, people are still asking Spike Lee about Perry and he’s made a statement asking y’all [...]
JeromeMJ
August 14th, 2012
7:55 am
SPike Lee like most New Yorkers is completely out of touch with anything but black racist Attitudes against white people. He is a NYU film shool joke who makes formula movies with no artistic merit. He is a sensationalist who has always wondered why so few people care to see his movies.
Keep him New York.
NO More Questions, @SpikesLee Is Fed With Being Asked About @tylerperry : Perry Responds “Spike Can Go Straight To Hell : KLIOU
August 14th, 2012
9:37 am
[...] Lee, who is promoting his Red Hook Summer release, was being interviewed by host Art Terrell, on Atlanta’s KISS 104.1 radio station, when the Perry questions came up. “No more Tyler Perry questions, please,” he [...]
Tyler Fairy
August 14th, 2012
10:30 am
NO more Spike Lee Movies or Interviews PLEASE! Please God Help Us!
Tyler Fairy
August 14th, 2012
10:30 am
Sorry, name name is supposed to be Tyler Ferry, darn auto correct!
AnitaM
August 14th, 2012
10:56 am
Both Tyler and Lee are storytellers. There is nothing wrong with how either filmmaker chooses to present aspects of the African American culture, experience, life, etc. Tyler’s methods are no different then Flip Wilson’s who dressed as Geraldine. Lee’s methods are no different than August Wilson’s. What’s important is that issues concerning African American’s has been made mainstream because of both Tyler’s and Lee’s work. Look at this way. The Bible is presented to us in different ways, but the key is that God wants us to come away with the same message-His message of love and salvation. Don’t be closed minded by the methods used and miss the message. You have to look deeper than on the surface of what Tyler and Lee are trying to convey.
Lee is always talking about how Hollywood doesn’t support his films and yet he does nothing to change that. I have a problem with that. If anything, he should try to collaborate with Tyler since Tyler does have influence in places he does not. Let’s not forget Tyler has done non-Madea movies, too.. It’s called networking. Tyler is doing something right. He is the only African American filmmaker that has 3 sitcoms on television! We have not had this type of dominance since Sanford and Son, Good Times, The Jeffersons, The Cosby Show, A Different World. They could learn from one another.
Madea
August 14th, 2012
11:03 am
Aint no body said nothin bout no lunrch, I don’t want no lurnch!
Mookie
August 14th, 2012
11:04 am
Dago, guinea, garlic-breath, pizza-slingin’, spaghetti-bendin’, Perry Como, Luciano Pavaroitti…
Madea
August 14th, 2012
11:06 am
I don’t like you, say summ’n else smartttt to me
Mookie
August 14th, 2012
11:10 am
I got it, I’m gone.
Madea
August 14th, 2012
11:11 am
I got bout 27 people in my head and they was all about to beat yo tail!! I’m telling you, I’m crazy, I will burn this place DOWN!
Vashtai
August 14th, 2012
8:09 pm
Tyler Perry makes movies for black people and white racists to laugh at. Spike Lee makes movies for black people and thinking white people. Each has their own (sometimes overlapping) market. There is room for both. But it’s still apples and oranges. Each is an auteur in their own way. Tyler just makes way more money pandering to the ghetto.
Yusef
August 15th, 2012
8:39 am
I think it’s time. We gonna march and protest up on Perry. That man has his foot on our neck.
Don
August 15th, 2012
9:33 am
Yeah, Spike makes movies for thinking white people. They’re thinking what the hell am I doing watching this garbage.
ChrisM
August 18th, 2012
12:46 am
Tyler Perry does more than just run around in a dress. He helps people and gives back to the community. He hsd an amazing foundation. I praise him and I thank God for him being such a wonderful person.