**Whoopi Goldberg Praises Tyler Perry’s 25 Years as a Black Showrunner: ‘People Could Have Done What He Did, But No One Did’
*Whoopi Goldberg Praises Tyler Perry’s Success: ‘People Could Have Done What He Did, But No One Did’
Actress and talk show host Whoopi Goldberg took the opportunity on Tuesday to applaud filmmaker Tyler Perry on his success.
Goldberg attended an event at Tyler Perry Studios on Dec. 4 in Atlanta in celebration of the writer’s 25th anniversary as a show boss. Perry founded his studio in 1993, which led to the birth of a gang of plays and movies. The actor-writer-director-producer, famed for his character Madea, took fans by storm with his 1999 play “I Can Do Bad All by Myself.”
Whoopi Goldberg and Tyler Perry attend the New York premiere of “Nobody’s Fool” at AMC Lincoln Square Theater on October 28, 2018, in New York. (Photo: ANGELA WEISS/AFP/Getty Images)
Perry has employed a multitude of Black actors and actresses over the years to perform in his studio plays and television series. He recently made news for extending an offer to “Cosby Show” actor Geoffrey Owens after he was job-shamed by media outlets for bagging groceries.
Goldberg and Perry’s history together goes back years after the “Sister Act” actress starred in Perry’s 2010 film “For Colored Girls.” She also appears in his recent November release, “Nobody’s Fool.” During an interview with MEFeature Magazine this week, “The View” host applauded Perry on his accomplishments and said no other Black actor has quite “done what he did.”
“Lots of people could have done what he did but no one did,” Goldberg said. “He’s the only one who decided to create his own studio, on everything he does, put it together and employ 7,000 people in Atlanta. A lot of people could of done it but he’s the only one who did do it.”
Social media users seemed to agree with Goldberg’s statements about Perry.
“I literally say this all the time,” one Twitter user wrote. “Tyler jump started so many Black actors/actresses careers, gave thousands of Black folks jobs and Madea damn near raised me. Love Whoopi!!”
Another added, “Whoopi is speaking the truth !!!”
Perry thanked all of his fans last month for supporting his 25 years as a studio owner and tweeted, “Thanks for 25 amazing years! You were there from the beginning! Y’all went to my plays and movies every time I asked, and I’m still so grateful.”
Whoopi Goldberg on @tylerperry's contributions to Film and Hollywood.
"Lot's of people could have done what he did, but no one did." pic.twitter.com/cIjuOqlvw4— MEFeater Magazine (@mefeater) December 4, 2018
