"Tyler is not the gatekeeper of all black stories" — Keke Palmer defends Tyler Perry after filmmaker's comments about critics went viral

American actress Keke Palmer has defended filmmaker Tyler Perry following recent comments that have sparked a viral debate.

On July 25, 2024, Keke Palmer took to X to address Perry's criticism after he appeared on Keke Palmer's podcast and responded to the critics online of his movie. She suggested that Tyler Perry does not control all Black narratives and is only a creative person.

"Tyler is not the gatekeeper of all black stories he's just one creative who broke through the system," Palmer wrote.

Earlier, on July 23, 2024, Palmer invited Tyler Perry on her podcast Baby, This is Keke Palmer, where he discussed the criticism he faced online for his movie Divorce in the Black, released on July 11, 2024. Critics and entertainment enthusiasts had accused the film of misogynistic, and antiblack stereotypes, among other issues. To which, Perry replied:

"You gotta drown all of that out, because if you let somebody talk you out of a place that God has put you in, you are going to find yourself in hell."

The drama revolves around accusations from some netizens that Tyler Perry allegedly hates black women and purposely makes movies and content around them.

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"It's the system that makes it hard for multiple black artist" — Keke Palmer weighs in on Tyler Perry's comments

On Friday, in a statement posted on X, Keke Palmer suggested that Perry is not the enemy of any specific community. She insisted that the system plays the role of "enemy" here and does not allow the number of artists from a particular community.

"The enemy isn't Tyler it's the system that makes it hard for multiple black artist to shine at one time. Oppression turns you against the person that gets the shine opposed to questioning why there can only be so few at a time," Palmer wrote.

She further mentioned that encouraging others to support diversity is a challenge. However, she concluded by saying the focus should be on promoting inclusivity rather than opposing individual creators.

"Advocating for others to do the same is the fight, not hating Tyler for his work that many do love," she concluded.

The statement from Keke Palmer came after Perry faced extensive criticism for his response to the critics. During the podcast, the conversation shifted to Perry's recent release and the response he received.

Tyler Perry responded by emphasizing that what truly matters to him is the feedback he receives from individuals who express how his work has positively impacted their lives. He concluded by asserting that online critics should not have the authority to determine the significance of any story.

"I know for a fact that what I'm doing is exactly what I'm supposed to be doing because, for everyone who is a critic, I have thousands of, what used to be, emails from people saying, 'This changed my life.' That is what is important to me," Perry said.

He further added:

"Don't discount these people and say their stories don't matter. Who are you to be able to say which Black story is important or should be told? Get out of here with that bullshit."

After his remarks, several netizens suggested that Tyler Perry is not a storyteller and Black people deserve to have their stories told:

"Black people do deserve to have our stories told. But Tyler Perry is not a storyteller. He is a man who hates black women and continues to make movies where he punishes black women for choosing happiness over suffering. He believes black women is synonymous with pain," one said.

"Me, a highbrow negro, looking down on Tyler Perry plots," another noted.

"Tyler Perry's movies are more than just "not for everyone". He's more than just "lazy". He's a purveyor of mysogynoir and antiblack stereotypes. And I'm never going to look away in the name of "he hires Black people," another on X.

"Tyler Perry thinks he's doing the work of Zora Neale Hurston, talking about some high brow negros… I'm so weak 😭," one more on X.

However, there were a few who suggested that they like some of the Tyler Perry work, including The Family That Preys, For Colored Girls, and Why Did I Get Married, a few of which they can watch on repeat:

"I will never say "Tyler Perry films are terrible"… because he's got a few that I watch repeatedly," one wrote on X.

Tyler Perry has not yet responded to Keke Palmer's tweet. However, Perry's recent release, Divorce in the Black, is a thriller-drama about two people — Ava and Dallas. The story depicts how Dallas leaves Ava heartbroken, and Ava gets a chance to find her true love.