Tyler Perry called Q100’s The Bert Show in Atlanta Friday morning to discuss his thoughts on Michael Jackson’s passing and to urge fans and the media to give the Jackson family “respect and room to grieve.”
The director, who was due to direct Michael’s sister Janet in the sequel to his 2007 hit “Why Did I Get Married?” confirmed that Jackson was on her way to Atlanta to begin production on the film Thursday when she got word of her brother’s death and her plane was immediately re-routed to Los Angeles, reports the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. This counters earlier reports that Jackson was in London when she got the news.
“I spoke to her yesterday,” Perry said. “She’s a wonderful, wonderful, wonderful girl. There’s no pretense. She’s a regular, beautiful human being. I just ask that people pray for her and her family.”
Perry went on to criticize media outlets who feel the need to mention Jackson’s trial on child molestation charges.
“These are human beings, they’re human beings,” Perry said. “I wouldn’t wish the level of fame he achieved on my worst enemy. I am so disgusted, that, with every great thing that’s being said about him, there’s a million negative things being said. Why can’t it just be about his legacy rather than the tarnished part of what he was acquitted for? It bothers me that this is the focus.”
Added Perry: “Growing up as a kid who was molested, I am never, ever going to be a defender of a molester. But the truth of the matter is, the man was acquitted. And I have seen first-hand what people will do for money.”
Perry added: “I hope that people will just send up a prayer for his family. Even though they’re famous these are regular human beings. If you cut them, they bleed. Having to deal with all this negativity is hard.”
The Atlanta film director and studio owner dismissed co-host Bert Weiss’ theory that father Joe Jackson is solely to blame for his son’s complicated life.
“I disagree with you,” said Perry. “I went through a lot of things with my father. Things I did not deserve as a kid. Things that he said to me, did to me. But it didn’t make me become something other than what I am right now. There comes a point in your life, that no matter who you are, you begin to find yourself.”
