Aaron McGruder, creator of the African-American Cartoon Network show "The Boondocks" has created something of a sensation by aiming his satirical sights on another icon of the African-American community, Tyler Perry.
Tyler Perry is the mogul head of a African-American entertainment empire, that includes popular plays and movies. If you've never heard of him, Entertainment Weekly has noticed he's made tons of money but within Hollywood gets very little credit for being the major player that he is.
It's hard to pinpoint if Perry's under-appreciation in mass culture stems from his race, his Christian themes, or is it his low-brow, broad comedic tone? It's probably safe to say it's some combination of all of the above. But what he lacks in recognition he makes up for in a fervent and devoted fan base.
There is much to cheer for in Perry's success. His casts are primarily African American and the themes revolve around the redeeming value of (heterosexual) love and Jesus. A standard recurring character in many of Perry stage and film productions is also a gun-toting, foul-mouthed grandmother named Medea. Perry plays this character himself in drag. And Medea does subtly challenge audiences to reconcile professions of faith with actions, like cursing and indiscriminate gun violence.
Michael J. White and Tasha Smith in "Why did I get married?" Photo by Alfeo Dixion.
In the episode, Huey, Boondock's voice-of-reason character, referring to the Perry stand-in, named Winston Jerome, explains the standard formula to his entertainment:
"The typical Winston Jerome story starts with a beautiful, educated black woman trapped in a marriage to the brown-skinned bald guy from Law & Order. Eventually she ends up with a shirtless, light-skinned gardener showing her how to love through the strength of Jesus."
The episode portrays the Tyler Perry character as being a closeted homosexual, and his empire run as a cult. Other points of critique that have beenn lost amid the "outing" hubbub including; does Perry reinforce "light-skin" "dark-skin divides?; has he merely repackaged the flesh-peddling appeal of a rap culture under the more respectable Jesus™ branding?
Perry himself denied being gay in 2007, and many other times. And his defenders have suggested this is another attempt to take down a powerful black man. A response I personally have a problem with as I don't presume being called gay is an insult or being outed can "take down" an entertainment figure. And, of course, that also leaves the other points of critique conveniently unaddressed.
Reporting on the story, the Urban Daily asks, "Is a homo-erotic Christian theater cult better than Scientology?" Straight from the A is also reporting the story as The Boondocks "Outs" Tyler Perry.... Consensus seems to be the episode is very funny.
Tyler himself is said not to be laughing. Rumors of mass firings at the Perry empire have gossip columnist Carlton Jordon declaring "Tyler Perry is a drag queen scorned!" and quoting a source that says the episode hit a little too close to home and Perry is trying to stem the flow of insider information. Bossip too is reporting Tyler Perry Gets His Period And Starts Firing Folks Because Of The Boondocks Episode That Aired His Gay Business.
Gay or not, response can be critical to giving these dust-ups legs or letting them fade away. And breaking rumors of a lawsuit, suggest Perry wishes to escalate this story. My advice is, really is the same for any good scandal where no one was seriously hurt or killed: laugh it off.
Other national figures have responded to such rumors far more relaxed manner. Actor James Franco, has been subject of such rumors for playing gay in "Milk," and other films, and for being extraordinarily pretty. On the topic he told the UK Independent:
"...the worst downside, and I don't consider this a downside, the worst thing that anybody could say is that I was gay and if somebody said that I guess they would be wrong, but I also wouldn't care and as far as being typecast, that's not the case, nonetheless I would be happy to play 100 gay roles as long as they were always good parts."
Franco was actually much more serious and troubling gay rumors, fueled by a very popular site. I was actually personally shocked to see him even spoof these rumors on Saturday Night Live, recently. Seems like Tyler Perry could take some tips from Franco's publicist, and learn too, to get in on the joke himself.
I don't have any idea whether Tyler Perry is gay. I do think he's a very ripe target for such a biting parody.
As a friend of mine said, "does a man who makes his living as a drag queen really need outing? lol" The comedic value of men in dresses is a staple in Tyler's work, as are shirtless, extraordinarily good-looking and well-sculpted men. It has also been pointed out Perry's comedic choices have frequently relied on homophobic constructs.
The issue of gays, blacks and faith draws people's attention because it's an elephant in the room. There is an opportunity for Perry to explore with sensitivity and humor many topics at this intersection. I would encourage him to turn a sensitive and playful eye to the issue of gays and lesbians. In Perry's idealized world, gay people conveniently do not exist, and as such, offer no opportunity for dramatic conflict. In Tyler Perry's world, no parent struggles to reconcile the love they feel for their child, and the lessons taught by the Church. No child worries, is there a place for me to live honestly in the African-American community, will I be accepted at my church, by my family, if they knew who I really am? Or would I be cast out? The countless romanticized, idealized love stories told by Perry never acknowledge that LGBT people, of all colors and faiths--black and Christian too--fall in love and feel the same euphoria.
And humor is not an inappropriate venue to tell such stories. In truth, much truth can be told in humor, many defenses disarmed.
The episode in question is below, and in my opinion, it's very funny and very biting.