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Why Tyler Perry Thinks We Should Not Defund the Police

Photo via Tyler Perry on Facebook

Why Tyler Perry Thinks We Should Not Defund the Police

By Tess Farrand, Associate Content Editor

Christian movie mogul Tyler Perry doesn’t want to “defund the police” because he believes the country actually needs more officers.

“I would challenge people to do research and find out what [‘defund the police’] means,” Perry said on an interview with CNN’s Anderson Cooper. “Now, you’ve got to understand this — I’m not for taking money from the police department. I think we need more police. My studio is in a neighborhood where I think we need police.”

Perry’s comments come on the heels of racial injustice concerns amidst the coronavirus pandemic.

Perry went on to clarify his comments this way:

But we don’t need police that have — that are under-trained. And you’ve got to understand — I have really close friends who are police officers that I love dearly, who are really good people, who have been very, very hurt by this, as well. And here’s what I want you to understand, Anderson, wrong — where there is wrong, I’m going to stand up against it. When Rayshard Brooks was murdered, I thought that was wrong. When George — George Floyd was murdered, I thought that was wrong, like so many other people. But when a police officer who was white in a suburb in Atlanta was shot in the head by a shoplifter, I thought that was wrong, too, and I reached out to do what I can to help his family.

Perry’s support of well-intentioned police officers shouldn’t come as a surprise.

In recent months, the MEDEA creator donated supermarket gift cards to Atlanta police.

“This is about the good police officers who do their job well every day, some of whom are my personal friends,” Perry said. “This is about trying to bridge unity in a city that adopted me and held me up high enough to reach my own branch on the tree of success.”

Perry also has pointed others towards Jesus during this time, instead of stoking fires of frustration.

For more on what Perry’s up to, click here to check out his updates.

Presenting at the 2012 Tony Awards

Posted by Tyler Perry on Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.

What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.

You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.

Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.


Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.

What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.

You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.

Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.