Who is Tyler Perry, and is he gay? A look into his dating history
American actor, filmmaker, and playwright Tyler Perry is no new name in Hollywood. Mentioning his name ignites laughter and excitement among people who love his Mabel "Madea" Simmons character - a tough, elderly African-American woman. Many have questioned the actor's sexuality because of this character and also due to allegations from his former friend. For these reasons, this article answers the famous question fans ask: Is Tyler Perry gay?
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Is Tyler Perry gay?
- Who is Tyler Perry's partner?
- Who are Tyler Perry's ex-girlfriends?
- Is Tyler Lepley Tyler Perry’s partner?
- Who is Tyler Perry dating?
- Does Tyler Perry have a biological child?
- What is Tyler Perry’s net worth?
- Which Tyler Perry movie made the most money?
- Tyler Perry’s shows
- Where does Tyler Perry live?
- How much is Tyler Perry’s house?
- How tall is Tyler Perry?
- Does Tyler Perry talk to his father?
Madea is one of Tyler Perry's best fictional creations. His birth mother and his aunt inspire the character. Many love how hilarious, street-smart, and brutally honest the woman is, and having a baby daddy named Brown (played by David Anthony Mann Sr.) makes her shows and movies even more fun to watch. Many watch Madea for entertainment but also can't help raising eyebrows regarding the actor's sexuality. Have a glimpse of Tyler Perry's dating history below and discover how rumors of him being gay started.
Is Tyler Perry gay?
It is unclear whether Tyler Perry is gay because he has been romantically linked to multiple female celebrities, including Tasha Smith and Tyra Banks, and has a child with Gelia Bekele, whom he dated from 2009 to 2020. Moreover, the actor has never confirmed or denied gay rumors about him.
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.
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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, who they also claimed was his ex-lover, after the actor sued him for $100,000 for trespassing and stalking him.
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" and assumed he was saving the announcement about his sexuality for "bad times."
Who is Tyler Perry's partner?
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 between 2009 and 2020. They even had a son named son Aman Tyler Perry in 2014. As a result, many assumed Gelila Bekele was Tyler Perry's wife, yet they never officiated their union.
Source: Getty Images
Gelila Bekele is an Ethiopian-American model, filmmaker, social activist, and humanitarian. She was born in Ethiopia but later relocated to the United States with her family when she was eight.
The couple announced their split in December 2020 after being together for 13 years. Gelila Bekele and Tyler Perry met in 2007 at a Prince concert; the rest became history. Today, the two are focusing on their careers and co-parenting their son.
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) and 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.
On the other hand, actress Tasha Smith appeared in multiple Tyler Perry projects in the mid-2000s. She starred in the Why Did I Get Married? movies and a series based on For Better or Worse films.
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 sex… No, seriously. He’s like an uncle that never has sex. 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?
Source: Getty Images
Is Tyler Lepley Tyler Perry’s partner?
American actor Tyler Lepley, who portrays Benjamin "Benny" Young on Tyler Perry's soap opera The Haves and the Have Nots, denied the allegations that he is gay during an interview on Angela Yee’s Lip Service. He also cleared the air concerning similar allegations about his friend, Tyler Perry.
Who is Tyler Perry dating?
There has been no information about him dating anyone since he broke up with Gelila Bekele in 2020.
Does Tyler Perry have a biological child?
Aman Tyler Perry is the only son of Tyler Perry and his ex-girlfriend, Gelila Bekele. He was born on November 30, 2014, in the United States.
What is Tyler Perry’s net worth?
His net worth of $800 million 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. Every year, Tyler earns between $200 and $250 million from his entertainment empire, while 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.
Tyler produced 14 "Madea" movies, which grossed nearly $700 million at the box office, yet each cost less than $10 million to produce. Since Perry writes, directs, and makes his movies almost entirely independently, he took home the lion's share of roughly $300 million.
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.
Source: Getty Images
Tyler Perry’s shows
Perry's popular 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 television work as a director, producer, writer, and actor:
| Year | Show | Role |
| 2007 – 2012; 2020 – present | House of Payne | Madea |
| 2009 – 2011 | Meet the Browns | |
| 2011 – 2017 | For Better or Worse | |
| 2013–2017 | The Haves and the Have Nots | |
| 2013 – 2021 | Love Thy Neighbor | Madea |
| 2014 – 2020 | If Loving You Is Wrong | |
| 2016 | Too Close to Home | |
| 2016 – 2017 | The Passion: New Orleans | Host/Narrator |
| 2018 | The Paynes | |
| 2019 – present | The Ovals | |
| 2019 – present | Sistas | |
| 2020 – present | For Colored Girls | |
| 2020 – present | Young Dylan | |
| 2020 – present | Ruthless | |
| 2020 – present | Bruh | |
| 2020 – present | Assisted Living | |
| 2021 – present | All the Queen's Men | |
| 2022 – present | Zatima |
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. The mansion 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.
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 and continues to support Emmitt financially.
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.
Briefly.co.za shared an article about David Muir. Fans are always excited to know the personal lives of their favorite celebrities, including their sexualities.
Most celebrities publicize their romantic lives. Some are open about this part of their lives, while others, like David Muir, have left fans to speculate about their sexuality for some time before addressing the issue.
Source: Briefly News
