Tyler Perry Called Out by Evangelist for 'Veering Off God's Clear Path'
Has Tyler Perry stopped pleasing God?
That's what evangelist and best-selling author Larry Tomczak wrote in his editorial piece for Charisma last week. Tomczak, a public policy adviser with Liberty Counsel who is also a board member on Intercessors for America, called out Perry for "veering off God's clear path" with his movies and personal life.
Perry, who wrote, directed and stars as his popular character Madea in the film "Boo 2! A Madea Halloween," is straying away from the family-friendly films that he once made, according to Tomczak. The evangelist questioned why Perry's latest film contained so much sexual content.
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"This movie features teenage girls' escapades at an all-night Halloween party with frat guys in a house where 14 youth were murdered. The storyline serves up 'wholesome' family fun including: getting drunk, smoking dope, 'hooking up,' crude double entendres, profane language and repeated misuse of God's name," Tomczak wrote. "In this day and age of raising awareness on 'Weinsteinish' exploitation of vulnerable females, do we really need more in-your-face portrayals of men's lust-driven sexual advances while rattling off references to [prostitutes] and 'days as a pimp?'"
He went on to speak about Perry's personal life after the filmmaker fathered a son with his model and filmmaker girlfriend, Gelila Bekele, in 2014 without marrying her.
"Not long ago, unfortunately, Tyler began veering off God's clear path for men and women regarding marriage and family. Millions who look to him as a role model for their lives and their children were shocked," Tomczak wrote. "He and his girlfriend, model Gelila, are reported not to be married but rather living together ("lifestyle fornication"). In 2014, they had an out-of-wedlock baby boy, Aman."
Media tycoon Oprah Winfrey is the godmother of Aman, and may be leading Perry on a deceptive path, according to Tomczak.
"Here's the deal: material success and New Age advice from people like Oprah Winfrey have influenced Tyler Perry on a dangerous and deceptive path," he wrote. "For millions of us who have followed his career and pointed scores of our youth in his direction, now is the time to pray for his turnaround to once again please the God who has so richly blessed him."
More than just calling Perry out, Tomczak said, "my sincere prayer is that he will read this and make the necessary adjustments."
While Perry keeps much of his personal life under wraps, he previously said he believes that "God has allowed" his son into his life.
"You know, the greatest gift that I'm being given right now is the opportunity to give the little boy in me everything I never had. So that's what I'm so excited about," Perry said in a previous interview with EXTRA. "This beautiful human being that God has allowed to come into my life, for me to get to know, because they come in their own personalities and who they are, and just shepherd and usher him into whatever the child is supposed to be is what, I'm gonna do."
