Tyler Perry, who is best known for playing the role of Madea (a fictional elderly African-American woman who is created by Tyler Perry himself), is not only an actor but also a filmmaker and a playwright all rolled into one.
The actor, who has been considered a triple threat in Hollywood, is popular for his movies and TV shows that often deal with family turmoil and social issues and are portrayed in a rather comedic way. Among these projects are “Diary of a Mad Black Woman” (2005), where his famous character, Madea, came from, “Daddy’s Little Girls” (2007), “Why Did I Get Married” (2007), “For Colored Girls” (2010), “The Haves and the Have Nots” (2013-2021), “Gone Girl” (2014), “If Loving You is Wrong” (2014-2020), “Acrimony” (2018), and “A Fall From Grace” (2020).
His undeniable success in the industry made him the first black person to own a major film and television studio. But success always comes with downsides and, in the case of the veteran actor, it’s getting exposed to various rumors about his personal life. One of the rumors that swirls around the actor’s name is about his sexuality. Is Tyler Perry gay? Let’s find out.
VOTE: What is Tyler Perry’s Sexuality?
Tyler Perry’s Sexuality: How Did Rumors About Him Being Gay Start?
The actor’s sexuality has been questioned for several years now. His effective portrayal of a female character is not the sole reason why fans assume that the actor is gay. Below are the other reasons why some fans believe that Tyler Perry swings that way.
First, the actor slash playwright has been open about his support for gay rights. It was in 2016 when Tyler Perry urged Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal to reject an LGBT discrimination bill.
We believe in inclusion and equality for all people.”
Tyler Perry Studios’ Spokesperson
His apparent support for the LGBT community didn’t stop there. The actor even built a shelter for displaced LGBTQ youth (along with homeless women and trafficking victims) in his film studio in Atlanta in 2019.
Fans even speculated about his sexuality because he loves to cast muscular actors for his plays and films. And although none of the above-mentioned reasons suggest anything about his sexuality, this doesn’t seem to stop the assumption from going around for years.
Tyler Perry’s Dating History
The fact that Tyler Perry has been single for a long time fueled the rumor that he is, in fact, gay. But even when the successful actor slash filmmaker started to openly date, the rumors didn’t entirely die down.
Here’s a quick glance at Tyler Perry’s past dating relationships.
The actor had been rumored to date model and talk show host Tyra Banks way back in 2006. This was after the couple had been spotted together in public places on several instances. The romantic relationship was, however, never confirmed.
The actor was also linked to American actress and filmmaker Tasha Smith, who had acted in several of his projects, like “Why Did I Get Married” and its sequel. Their relationship was never confirmed, either.
Tyler Perry’s only confirmed relationship is with his Ethiopian model ex-girlfriend, Gelila Bekele, who he met in 2007. The couple dated for a few years and even had a son in 2014. They, however, called it quits in 2020. There was speculation that the couple secretly married, but it was never confirmed.
Is Tyler Perry Gay?
No, Tyler Perry is not gay. Although he never directly addressed the unending rumor about his sexuality, it is believed that the actor-slash-filmmaker is straight. It seems like correcting assumptions about his sexuality was not on his list of priorities. He is focused more on growing his career by providing the utmost entertainment to the people through his movies and TV shows. This is aside from co-parenting his now 7-year-old son with his ex-girlfriend, Aman Tyler.