In a recent interview with Hot 97 radio, Spike Lee says there is no rift between him and Tyler Perry. Back in 2011, Lee made headlines when he publically scolded Perry’s work calling it coonery and buffoonery.
Apparently we’re all late. Spike Lee say’s the two have seen each other since then and there is no beef. We’re not buying it. Lee makes no mention of them even speaking in the interview. And when you say things like Lee said in 2011, you’re never completely “cool.”
Back in 2011 Lee stated:
Each artist should be allowed to pursue their artistic endeavors, but I still think there is a lot of stuff out today that is coonery and buffoonery. I know it’s making a lot of money and breaking records, but we can do better. I am a huge basketball fan, and when I watch the games on TNT, I see these two ads for these two shows (Tyler Perry’s “Meet the Browns” and “House of Payne”), and I am scratching my head. We got a black president, and we going back to Mantan Moreland and Sleep ‘n’ Eat?
Perry decided to fire back and respond to Lee in a press conference while promoting ‘Madea’s Big Happy Family’ in 2011.
I’m so sick of hearing about damn Spike Lee. Spike can go straight to hell! You can print that. I am sick of him talking about me, I am sick of him saying, ‘this is a coon, this is a buffoon.’ I am sick of him talking about black people going to see movies. This is what he said: ‘you vote by what you see,’ as if black people don’t know what they want to see.
On Hot 97, Lee explained:
I’ve never ever said that Tyler Perry was not a good businessman. I’ve never ever said that Tyler Perry did not provide many jobs for people of color. And in fact, me and Tyler Perry are cool so there’s no beef between us – supposed beef between us. Him and I were together and there’s no actual static or ill feelings between me and Tyler Perry. I’ve never ever ever said I’m speaking on behalf of 45 million African Americans. I say this is my opinion and my opinion alone.
