Who is Tyler Perry, and is he gay? A look into his dating history
American actor, filmmaker, and playwright Tyler Perry is a well-known figure in the entertainment industry. His Madea character brings laughter and joy to many fans. However, questions about his sexuality have grown over time, especially after recent allegations by a former male employee. This article explores Tyler's sexuality and dating history.
Source: UGC
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Key takeaways
- Profile summary
- Who is Tyler Perry and why is he famous?
- What is Tyler Perry's age?
- Is Tyler Perry gay?
- Is Tyler Perry married?
- Who is Tyler Perry dating?
- Tyler Perry's kids
- Is Crystal Hayslett in a relationship with Tyler Perry?
- Who are Tyler Perry's ex-girlfriends?
- Is Tyler Lepley Tyler Perry’s partner?
- Does Tyler Perry talk to his father?
- Tyler Perry's movies and TV shows
- Which Tyler Perry movie made the most money?
- What is Tyler Perry’s net worth?
- Where does Tyler Perry live?
- How much is Tyler Perry’s house?
- How tall is Tyler Perry?
- Who is Tyler Perry to Prince Harry?
- How many times has Tyler Perry been married?
- Why did Tyler Perry change his name?
- Facts about Tyler Perry
Key takeaways
- Tyler Perry is best known for creating and portraying the iconic Madea character.
- His sexuality has long been a topic of public speculation, heightened by recent allegations from a former male employee.
- Despite the rumors, Tyler has not publicly identified as gay and keeps his personal relationships private.
- The actor has a son called Aman, but he has largely kept him out of the public eye.
Profile summary
Full name | Emmitt Perry Jr. |
Stage name | Tyler Perry |
Gender | Male |
Birthdate | September 13, 1969 |
Age | 56 years (as of 2025) |
Zodiac sign | Virgo |
Birthplace | New Orleans, Louisiana, USA |
Residence | Douglasville, outside Atlanta, Georgia, USA |
Nationality | American |
Ethnicity | African-American |
Religion | Christianity |
Height | 6′ 5″ (1.96 m) |
Hair color | Black |
Eye color | Dark Brown |
Father | Emmitt Perry Sr. |
Mother | Willie Maxine Perry (née Campbell) |
Siblings | 3 |
Marital status | Unmarried |
Former partner | Gelila Bekele (2009 – 2020) |
Children | 1 |
Career | Playwright, actor, screenwriter, producer, and director |
Year active | 1992 – present |
Net worth | $1.4 billion (approx.) |
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Who is Tyler Perry and why is he famous?
He is an American playwright, actor, screenwriter, producer, and director. Many have watched him play Madea in movies, TV shows, and stage plays. The character often makes people raise questions about the actor's sexuality.
What is Tyler Perry's age?
The American director is 56 years old as of 2025. He was born on September 13, 1969, in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
Is Tyler Perry gay?
It is unclear whether the filmmaker is gay. He has been romantically linked to several female celebrities, including Tasha Smith and Tyra Banks. He also has a child with Gelila Bekele, whom he dated from 2009 to 2020. The actor has never confirmed or denied the gay rumors.
Source: Original
When did Tyler Perry come out as gay?
He has never admitted he is gay. Rumors about the actor's sexuality emerged for the first time in 2006 when he released the "Madea" film. Many believed his mannerisms on screen suggested he was gay, but had no substantial evidence to support the claim.
Later, Tyler Perry's former friend, Walter Lee Hampton II, fueled the speculation by claiming the filmmaker was gay back in the 90s but had since abandoned the gay community.
Walter posted a video on YouTube on April 16, 2013, detailing his complex and close relationship with Tyler. He even alleged that Tyler Perry's popular Madea performances would not continue to garner financial and critical success if he came out. He shared a follow-up video on April 24, 2013, titled The "OUTING" of TYLER PERRY. Can a GAY MAN who is ALREADY OUT, be "OUTED"?
In 2014, tabloids dug deep into the life of Tyler Perry's ex-employee, Joshua Sole. They claimed he was the actor’s ex-lover after Perry sued him for $100,000 for trespassing and stalking.
When Tyler announced his girlfriend Gelila Bekele's pregnancy in 2014, Lord Jamar was among the many who never got convinced that he was straight.
On the contrary, the rapper was shocked to learn that the actor had a girlfriend. He believed Tyler Perry's girlfriend would be a "beard". He assumed he was saving the announcement about his sexuality for "bad times."
Allegations by former employee
In 2025, actor Derek Dixon accused Tyler Perry of sexual harassment and assault between 2019 and 2021. He claims Perry used his influence to make unwanted advances and threatened his career when he refused.
He also shared what he claimed were text messages between them to support his accusations. The $260 million lawsuit also mentions emotional distress and professional retaliation.
Tyler Perry has denied all allegations. His lawyer called the claims false and a scam. The case remains under investigation, and no ruling has been made yet. The allegations have reignited questions about his sexuality.
Is Tyler Perry married?
The filmmaker has never been married and has not dated anyone the public knows of since 2020. His decade-long relationship with Gelila Bekele lasted from 2009 to 2020. As a result, many assumed Gelila Bekele was Tyler Perry's wife, yet they never officiated their union.
Source: UGC
Who is Tyler Perry dating?
He might be single because he has not been dating anyone known to the public since 2020. His last girlfriend, Gelila Bekele. She is an Ethiopian-American model, filmmaker, social activist, and humanitarian.
She was born in Ethiopia and relocated to the US with her family when she was eight. Gelila Bekele and Tyler Perry met in 2007 at a Prince concert; the rest became history.
The couple announced their split in December 2020 after being together for 13 years. Today, the two are focusing on their careers and co-parenting their son.
As a documentary filmmaker, Bekele's most recent project, Maxine's Baby: The Tyler Perry Story, was released in November 2023. It captures Tyler Perry's life, and not just what fans have seen on screen.
Tyler Perry's kids
The actor has one child as of October 2024. Tyler Perry's son is called Aman Tyler Perry. He was born on November 30, 2014, to his ex-girlfriend Gelila Bekele.
Who is Tyler Perry's daughter?
Tyler does not have a daughter but is the godfather to Prince Harry and Meghan's daughter, Princess Lilibet of Sussex.
Is Crystal Hayslett in a relationship with Tyler Perry?
American actor Devale Ellis confirmed on the We Over Me show in February 2023 that Crystal Renee Hayslett was not Tyler Perry's girlfriend. He also said Tyler hoped she would find true love someday.
Crystal is an American actress and costume designer. Devale explained that she and Tyler were close and best friends because she was his stylist for 12 to 13 years. Rumors of her and Tyler Perry dating began in October 2022 when he sent her multiple designer handbags as gifts for her 40th birthday.
Source: UGC
Crystal and Tyler have maintained a good working relationship even after she stopped being his employee. She hosted him on the first episode of Keep It Positive Sweetie Season 2, where they discussed topics ranging from his upbringing to fear, relationships, and more.
Hayslett has also referred to Tyler as her friend on multiple occasions. For instance, in June 2022, she posted a picture of them at an event on Instagram and captioned:
A beautiful night with the people I love! @tylerperry. You continue to outdo yourself, my friend! Boy, we had a time last NIGHT!!!
Tyler has always been generous with people. For instance, he gave Tiffany Haddish a new blue Tesla Model X in 2018 after she said that it was her dream car.
Perry also sent Oprah Winfrey a bouquet for her 59th birthday in 2013. The previous year, he had surprised her and her friend, Gyle King, with cream convertible Bentleys with tan interiors.
Who are Tyler Perry's ex-girlfriends?
Before his relationship with Gelila Bekele, he was rumored to have dated Tasha Smith, an American actress, director, and producer. He was also romoured to have dated Tyra Banks, an American model, television personality, producer, writer, and actress.
Tyra Banks and Tyler Perry piqued people’s curiosity when they were spotted having dinner in 2006. However, both denied ever dating.
Source: UGC
On the other hand, actress Tasha Smith appeared in multiple Tyler Perry projects in the mid-2000s. She starred in Why Did I Get Married? and a series based on For Better or Worse.
Like rapper Lord Jamar, the actress was equally surprised when she learned that Tyler had a girlfriend and they were expecting a child. She jokingly told Wendy Williams:
I used to think he was asexual. I didn’t think he had s*x… No, seriously. He’s like an uncle that never has s*x. I was just shocked, and I’m so happy for him; he’s going to be a daddy. I used to think that he would just be the uncle-daddy, you know?
Is Tyler Lepley Tyler Perry’s partner?
American actor Tyler Lepley plays Benjamin "Benny" Young on Tyler Perry's soap opera The Haves and the Have Nots. He denied being gay during an interview on Angela Yee’s Lip Service. He also addressed and dismissed similar rumors about his friend, Tyler Perry.
Does Tyler Perry talk to his father?
The actor forgave his father, Emmitt Sr., for putting him through an abusive life growing up. The experience made Perry suffer from depression as a teenager. Although a DNA test confirmed Emmitt is not his biological father, Tyler has let go of the past. He continues to support Emmitt financially.
Source: UGC
Tyler Perry's movies and TV shows
His movie Diary of a Mad Black Woman (2005) marked Madea's first film appearance. The character was an instant hit with audiences, if not always critics, and a slew of Madea-centric movies followed.
Tyler Perry's movies
Below is a list of all of Tyler Perry's film work as a director, producer, writer, and actor:
Year | Film |
2005 | Diary of a Mad Black Woman |
2006 | Madea's Family Reunion |
2007 | Daddy's Little Girls |
2007 | Why Did I Get Married? |
2008 | Meet the Browns |
2008 | The Family That Preys |
2009 | Madea Goes to Jail |
2009 | Star Trek |
2009 | I Can Do Bad All By Myself |
2009 | Precious |
2010 | Why Did I Get Married Too? |
2010 | For Colored Girls |
2011 | Madea's Big Happy Family |
2012 | Good Deeds |
2012 | Madea's Witness Protection |
2012 | Alex Cross |
2013 | Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor |
Year | Film |
2013 | Peeples |
2013 | A Madea Christmas |
2014 | The Single Moms Club |
2014 | Gone Girl |
2015 | Madea's Tough Love |
2016 | Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows |
2016 | Brain on Fire |
2016 | Boo! A Madea Halloween |
2017 | The Star |
2017 | Boo 2! A Madea Halloween |
2018 |
Acrimony |
2018 | Nobody's Fool |
2018 | Vice |
2020 | A Fall from Grace |
2021 | PAW Patrol: The Movie |
2021 | Those Who Wish Me Dead |
2021 | Don't Look Up |
Year | Film |
2022 | A Madea Homecoming |
2022 | A Jazzman's Blues |
2024 | Mea Culpa |
2024 | Divorce in the Black |
2024 | Six Triple Eight |
2025 | Madea's Destination Wedding |
2025 | Black, White, and Blue |
TBA | Joy Ridge |
Tyler Perry’s TV shows
Perry's first sitcom, Tyler Perry's House of Payne, ran for eight seasons—from June 21, 2006, to August 10, 2012. The show initially aired on CW, but TBS took it away from it by offering him a $200 million production guarantee and a 90-episode commitment. So, Tyler spent $60 million on production costs and kept $140 million for himself.
Below is a list of all of Tyler Perry's series as a director, producer, writer, and actor:
Year | Television show |
2007 – 2012; 2020 – present | House of Payne |
2009–2011 | Meet the Browns |
2011 – 2017 | For Better or Worse |
2013–2017 | The Haves and the Have Nots |
2013 – 2021 | Love Thy Neighbor |
2014 – 2020 | If Loving You Is Wrong |
2016 | Too Close to Home |
2016 – 2017 | The Passion: New Orleans |
2018 | The Paynes |
2019 – present | Sistas |
2019 – present | The Ovals |
2020 – present | Young Dylan |
2020 – present | Ruthless |
2020 – present | Bruh |
2020 – present | Assisted Living |
2021 – present | All the Queen's Men |
2022 – present | Zatima |
2024 | Perimeter |
2025 | Route 187 |
TBA | Beauty in Black |
Tyler Perry’s stage works
While Perry did not complete high school, he earned a General Educational Development (GED). He moved to Atlanta around 1990, and two years later, the 22-year-old used his life savings of US$12,000 to sponsor his stage show, I Know I've Been Changed.
Below is a list of all of Tyler Perry's stage works as a director, producer, writer, and actor:
Year | Stage play |
1993 | I Know I've Been Changed |
1999 | Woman, Thou Art Loosed! |
1999 | I Can Do Bad All by Myself |
2000 | Behind Closed Doors |
2001 | Diary of a Mad Black Woman |
2002 | Madea's Family Reunion |
2003 | Madea's Class Reunion |
2003 | Why Did I Get Married? |
2004 | Meet the Browns |
2004 | Madea's Christmas |
2005 | Madea Goes to Jail |
2006 | What's Done in the Dark |
2008 | The Marriage Counselor |
2009 | Laugh to Keep from Crying |
2010 | Madea's Big Happy Family |
2011 | A Madea Christmas |
2011 | Aunt Bam's Place |
2011 | I Don't Want to Do Wrong |
2012 | The Haves and the Have Nots |
2012 | Madea Gets a Job |
2013 | Hell Hath No Fury Like a Woman Scorned |
2013 | Madea's Neighbors from Hell |
2017 | Madea on the Run |
2019 | Madea's Farewell Play |
Which Tyler Perry movie made the most money?
The highest-grossing Madea movie, Madea Goes to Jail, brought in $90,508,336 in total box-office earnings in 2009.
What is Tyler Perry’s net worth?
His net worth of $1.4 billion makes him one of the world's most financially successful film directors. He has directed and produced over 30 movies, 20 stage productions, and eight TV shows.
What made Tyler Perry so rich?
Tyler earns between $200 and $250 million from his entertainment empire every year. His production company currently earns $150 million per year from one deal alone with ViacomCBS.
His directorial debut was in 2006 with his second film, Madea's Family Reunion. The movie opened at number one at the box office with $30.3 million and ultimately grossed $65 million.
Source: UGC
Tyler produced 14 Madea movies, which grossed nearly $700 million at the box office, yet each cost less than $10 million. Since Perry writes, directs, and makes his movies almost entirely independently, he took home the lion's share of roughly $300 million.
Where does Tyler Perry live?
He lives in Douglasville, outside of Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States of America.
How much is Tyler Perry’s house?
Tyler Perry's $100 million mansion is 40,000 square feet and sits on 2,100 acres in Douglasville, outside Atlanta, Georgia.
How tall is Tyler Perry?
He is 6 feet 5 inches (1.96 meters) tall.
Who is Tyler Perry to Prince Harry?
Tyler Perry is a close friend to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. He offered them his Los Angeles home and security when they stepped back from royal duties in 2020.
How many times has Tyler Perry been married?
Tyler Perry has never been married. However, he was in a long-term relationship with model and filmmaker Gelila Bekele, with whom he shares a son.
Why did Tyler Perry change his name?
Tyler Perry was born Emmitt Perry Jr. He changed his first name to Tyler at age 16 to distance himself from his abusive father and mark a new beginning in his life.
Facts about Tyler Perry
- He has never openly admitted to being gay.
- He has never responded to rumors of being gay.
- None of the people accusing him of being gay has provided clear evidence.
- He has dated several celebrity women in Hollywood.
- He has a son with his former girlfriend, Gelila Bekele.
- He has never been married.
- He has never been in a romantic relationship with Crystal Hayslett.
There will never be a definite answer to the question, "Is Tyler Perry gay?" unless the actor himself clears the air regarding rumors surrounding his sexuality. For now, his sexuality remains a mystery to be unraveled because he is tight-lipped about the issue.
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