Tyler Perry On Oprah: Abuse, Molestation & More – Tyler Perry was a guest on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” today Wednesday (Oct. 20) where he gave a raw and painful interview about the fact that he was abused several times by different people when he was just a kid.
Perry refused to open up about the disturbing events when his mother who went through some extremely difficult ordeals was alive because he could not bear to cause her anymore harm with the horrors he had to reveal.
Seeing that she is now deceased the filmmaker decided to share his misery and burden with the world saying “[It was] a living hell.I feel like I died as a child.”
On his violent father who would constantly beat and verbally abused him:
“I could go to this park [in my mind] that my mother and my aunt had taken me to. … I’m there in this park running and playing, and it was such a good day,” he says. “So, every time somebody was doing something to me that was horrible, that was awful, I could go to this park in my mind until it was over.”
On trying to commit suicide when he could no longer bear his father’s endless torture:
“I thought, ‘What is the point of living?'” he says. “My mother was truly my saving grace, because she would take me to church with her. I would see my mother smiling in the choir, and I wanted to know this God that made her so happy. If I had not had that faith in my life, I don’t know where I would be right now.”
On being sexually abused at the age of 5 or 6 years by an adult male neighbor who was helping him build a little birdhouse:
“the man put his hands in my pants.I’m thinking, ‘What is this?.And I felt my body betraying me, because I felt an erection at that age.”
On being molested by a church member:
“[The man from church] used God and the Bible against me to justify a lot of the things that were going on. It was so horrible,” Tyler says. “And that was my first sexual experience, with this man performing oral sex on me as a boy.”
The writer also talked about being molested by an older woman when he was only ten years old and went on to reveal why he is sharing his life story now:
“She suffered so much horror in her life–surviving breast cancer, the abuse from my father, the belittling, the beatings. And I just could not be a source of pain.”
Hello Tyler my name is Tammy I’m 35 years old.I watched oprah today and seen ur story.I was molested by 2 men in my family one was my dad the other my brother in law.I was 12 when it started and continued till I was 16.I was told by my dad that’s what people do when they love u.I have been married 3 times but I feel like I’m not worthy to be loved no one wants me I started eating and putting on weight cause I thought if I was fat they wouldn’t touch me .I feel so bad now I’m over weight tried a lot to lose it no sucess my teeth r just crumbling I just want to feel like I’m someone .Tyler I would hate when it was bed time I was made to model my step moms lingere she worked at nite then my dad started paying me I felt like a whore at 12 .I’m a white girl but have always hung out with black people cause I felt safe.I love all ur plays and movies I feel like ur talking to me when u say u can’t believe people will put up with being hurt instead of being alone that’s me .but to let u know I forgave my dad and brother in law and my dad got saved he went to be with the lord in 2005 .But I want to say thanks to u for sharing ur story it will help a lot of people heal. Thanks Tyler may god bless u always
comment
i was sexy abuse by my brother for yrs…now i can’t feel the fact of someone loving me
I HAVE NEVER BEEN THRU ANYTHIG LIKE THAT AND I FELL TERRIBLE THAT PEOPLE DO STUFF LIKE THAT. TYLER PLEASE ALWAYS KEEP YOUR HEAD UP AND KEEP DOING WHAT U R DOING AND 1 DAY ALL THE PAIN AND HELP WILL GO AWAY. I WOULD SURE LIKE TO MEET YOU AND JUST GIVE U A BIG HUG, TAKAE CARE AND REMEMBER U R BLESSED IN SO MANY WAYS.
HEY TYLER
I LOVE YOU!!
Drama, Drama, Drama… who has not been touched by an adult in their early years of molested . Let us all move on… Oprah needs to get on with positive black perspectives..
Drama describes a play, it is a act, or scene in a movie. It is created on paper, and portrayed by actors, and actresses. When someone is discussing their lives it is not a drama. First understand the definition of a word before you place your name on an international website like this one. Mr. Tyler Perry, and Ms. Oprah Winfrey was discussing on her show one that I might add you (Josh) could have at any given time turned off, they were discussing a serious thought provoking matter, and that is Child molestation, Sexual Assault, and Rape. All of this happening to a Child, This actually, and factually took place in a celebrity, a brilliant celebritie’s life. His life is a blessing to many, and his sorrow is and will be shared by many of us who love his, and Ms. Oprah’s work. My son was Molested at the age of 3 by his daycare provider, a black woman who hurt him so severely he has been suffering since. Boys are treated like dogs, and black boys even worst. Nothing was done to this woman and my child is now a teenager and suffering the repercussions of that horrible incident. I am so glad that at last a man like Mr. Tyler Perry has the integrity, and strong will to sit and discuss his real life problems with us in order to help us, and prayfully help himself to finally heal from this tradegy. God bless you Mr. Tyler Perry keep your head up. That man took you to God, remember he wasn’t him, because God doesn’t hurt any of us, He loves us, and accepts us just as we are. Stay encouraged, keep the faith, and I will be praying for you.
Yours in Christ,
A praying Louisiana woman
Chaplain HMcGill
To Tammy,
I fully understand the pain you are going through. i was molested at 8 yrs old until
I was 18. I am 38 now. For a long time I thought “Why was this happening to me” and I was told by my father that this is what I wanted – to learn??!! He would say You’re going to be married one day and you will need to know what to do”. That went on for years. I know some folks would say why didn’t you just leave or speak up? At 8 years old where was I suppose to go i was too scared to tell my mother. and I did not want this to happen to my sister. I stayed to protect her. It took a long time to feel like I was worthy of being loved for me and not for what I could offer. What do not know is how this affects relationships/ marriages. But Mr. Perry is right about one thing. FORGIVENESS is key. After I learned to forgive and love myself. I was able to forgive others and receive love – REAL love. Tammy, I say to you that I know what it is like to have your trust betrayed by the ones you love. But I also know that there is no greater trust than in God Himself. Believe in that Higher power and know that you are his child. God loves us even when we do not love ourselves. Let your testimony bless someone as God allowed Mr. Perry to bless you. As you heal others, you little by little will be healing yourself.
Not Really peaches
Im not really peaches25
Sorry and Keep The Faith.
Chet Grimsley
Author of Atlantas The White Golden Bull
God Bless
Have a Great 2011
I was sexually abused by my step father from the age of 9 until I became pregnant by his child. My mother found out and told me that we needed to keep it under wraps for my sake. She said she didnt want my life to be ruined by becoming a teen mother. (like if it didnt feel ruined already) at the age of 13 being pregnant and having your mother tell you this— well I guess I just had to go with her plan. before I knew it I was in a girls home having my baby girl- my mother adopted her as if she were hers and we kept this dark secret for 15 yrs!! remember my mother never divorces him- so not only do I have to give up my child I also have to continue living with him!!
I am now grown and my daughter now knows the truth… I have never been happier… and my heart goes to all those people that have gone through something similar! This has now made me very very cautious with my children, newphews, nieces, godchildren, friends and my beautiful grandchildren!! You can NEVER be to careful….
LOVE YOU TYLER
i just want to say to tyler perry…thanx a mil 4 being God’s instrument becos by him coming out-it really has freed alot of people from their childhood bondages. personally myself…to know that i’m not alone-not that i would like anyone else to go through what i went through but to know that there are people like me and yet they still made it in life just gives me another day to look forward to, a whole lot of dreamz to pursue and thanx Oprah for your life-changing shows!!!