Tyler Perry is used to calling every shot on his sets. His newest role, though, has nothing to do with Madea, Netflix or one of his famously lightning-fast shoots.
The filmmaker has spent years growing his Atlanta empire throught film, television and philanthropy. Now he has a seat at the table during one of the most historic political handoffs in the country.
Ever since the news broke, people have been asking the same question. Why Tyler Perry?
Perry has now answered that himself. And in the process, he let slip who he dialed first once the election was called, and it’s not who most people would guess.
The Madea creator also took on the question that has trailed him for two months. Is Atlanta about to lose its biggest entertainment mogul for good?
The new gig comes courtesy of Keisha Lance Bottoms, who made history on Nov. 3 by defeating Republican Rick Jackson to become the first Black woman ever elected governor in the United States. She is also the first Democrat to win Georgia’s top job since 1998.
Three days later at the state Capitol, Bottoms rolled out her “Georgia’s Promise” transition team and named Perry one of its co-chairs.
He joins quite a heavyweight lineup that includes Home Depot co-founder Arthur Blank, former Walgreens CEO Rosalind Brewer, former gubernatorial nominee Jason Carter, nonprofit leader Michelle Nunn and veteran executive Vicki Palmer.
Bottoms praised the “Madea” creator as “a huge philanthropic part of our Georgia community.”
Perry discussed his appointment at the Atlanta premiere of his new holiday film, “The Gospel of Christmas.” The event took place at the Tabernacle, a venue he credits with helping launch his career.
Bottoms was in the building, and WSB-TV was the only local station there to catch what he said next.
The very first thing he did after Bottoms won, Perry revealed, was pick up the phone and call outgoing Republican Gov. Brian Kemp.
Perry said he has long had a strong relationship with Kemp and wanted to know how Georgia could keep its business momentum going while making sure Bottoms has every tool she needs. His goal, he explained, is for everyone in the state to thrive, regardless of race.
In a clip the station shared on Instagram, Perry summed up his mindset in one line. “I absolutely wanna do all I can,” he said.
Then he turned to Puerto Rico. Perry shut down any notion that he’s abandoning Georgia, insisting Tyler Perry Studios isn’t going anywhere.
He even admitted he’ll be working out of the island and plans to live there full-time for a while. Still, he made his loyalty plain: “Georgia’s still gonna always be home.”
Perry first revealed the move in September, saying he planned to relocate at the top of 2027 and pull back from his grueling schedule to spend more time with his 11-year-old son, Aman.
His studio, built on the former Fort McPherson Army base in southwest Atlanta, opened in 2017 while Bottoms was mayor. The official launch was held in 2019.
Under WSB-TV’s clip, the Kemp revelation drew plenty of applause. “The cooperation between Kemp, Keisha and Georgian business leadership has been refreshing,” one person wrote.
Another cheered, “That’s leadership,” saying they loved that Perry called Kemp to encourage collaboration.
Others weren’t sold on a transition team stacked with the ultra-wealthy. One person asked, “How about regular working class people?” Another user had a theory about the island move: “He’s cooking up something else big in Puerto Rico I bet.”
Money isn’t the only thing raising eyebrows.
Variety labeled Perry a controversial pick, pointing to civil lawsuits filed by two actors who have accused him of sexual misconduct. Perry has denied the allegations.
For Bottoms, the moment caps a stunning comeback. In January 2025, President Donald Trump tried to fire her from a White House post she had already resigned from, and MAGA critics hurled racist insults at her when she first hinted at a run for governor.
Her election night victory later had celebrities like Kandi Burruss buzzing.
Now, with Perry and a roster of corporate heavyweights in her corner, the real test begins ahead of her January inauguration.
