Tyler Perry has the streets talking amid reports he might’ve successfully acquired BET and VH1. But Black Twitter is expressing their skepticism over the rumored deal.
Many have been reacting to a since-deleted article that seemingly announced Perry’s acquisition of BET after months of negotiating and competing against fellow moguls like Byron Allen, Sean “Diddy” Combs, Shaquille O’Neal and others who also expressed interest in buying the network, as BLACK ENTERPRISE recently covered.
For the first time in 21 years, BET is black owned again, and for the first time ever VH1 is now black owned!
Tyler Perry just made history as the first African American to buy two major television networks pic.twitter.com/vd51oMKouQ
— CultureCentral (@CultureCentral1) June 13, 2023
While Perry, Viacom, nor BET Networks Paramount Global have confirmed or denied the reports, social media is still sounding off about the possibility. Particularly on Black Twitter where many are sharing their reluctance to accept the deal considering Perry’s long-rumored way of producing content.
On June 13, a Twitter user posted a screenshot from Tyler Perry’s Sistas that lists the media mogul as the executive producer, creator, writer and director.
“This might change the game for Black creatives & BET content! Tyler Perry’s table just got bigger!”
TP: pic.twitter.com/4CrYVsGROX
— I appreciate you. (@DeeLaSheeArt) June 13, 2023
“It’s officially over for BET. This man don’t even share his writers room so I know he gone turn the network into medea town,” one spectator wrote.
“Like this man is notorious for saying he writes all his stuff,” added someone else.
One critic accused Perry of being “addicted to them checks and not in putting out quality content that makes our ppl proud and paid.”
“Change the name of the network to Tyler Perry’s BET,” another user quipped.
The criticism stems from Perry’s honesty about not having a writer’s room like most productions. In 2020, he received mixed reviews after crediting his lack of a writer’s room to his “work ethic.”
“So, I don’t know if you know this, but all shows on television have a writers room,” he said in the video clip, while showing off piles of scripts.
WORK ETHIC!! Come on. Let’s go get 2020!!! pic.twitter.com/BzADIi1rAa
— Tyler Perry (@tylerperry) January 6, 2020
“Most of the time, there are 10 people or 12 or whatever that write on these television shows. Well, I have no writers room. Nobody writes any of my work. I write it all. Why am I telling you this? I wrote all of these scripts by myself in 2019. Work ethic!”
However, many have criticized Perry’s lack of a writer’s room saying his movies and television shows lack quality, relatable storylines and worthy hair units for his cast.
“This actually explains a lot. 🤨,” one person wrote in response.
“And this is why so much of your work is essentially the SAME.You ain’t tired? Hire some writers please,” added someone else.
Donald Glover infamously took aim at Tyler Perry’s way of directing in an episode on his show Atlanta that focused on the fictional character Kirkwood Chocolate. Glover revealed to GQ that he gave Perry advanced notice of the season 4 episode, but never heard back.
“I told him I was gonna do it,” he shared. “I don’t know how he took it. I texted him once, I think, for something… I didn’t hear back. That’s the thing about being Black. It becomes so personal so fast. I’m not s####### on you.”
Maybe Perry will take some pointers from the Black delegation if he is set to acquire Black Entertainment Television.
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