Hollywood Stars and Christians Flock to Tyler Perry Studios Grand Opening
By Tess Farrand, Associate Content Editor
Tyler Perry Studios celebrated a grand opening on Saturday October 5. Many Hollywood stars and Christians who’ve worked with Perry came out to applaud his achievement.
“For people to drop what they’re doing in their very busy schedules to come and join me in this moment is beyond anything I could’ve imagined. It makes me happy. It makes me want to cry. It makes me grateful,” Perry told Variety on the red carpet.
Perry, whose studio is in Atlanta, Georgia, also recently wouldn’t back down on filming projects in Georgia despite backlash from the pro-choice community.
In recent months, Perry cried over God’s faithfulness for his new studio.
Perry named each of his sound stages after different iconic African-American performers. Some of the names include Oprah Winfrey, Sidney Poitier, Ruby Dee, and Ossie Davis.
Christian singer Jennifer Hudson (DREAMGIRLS) attended, as did other Christians, such as Tamera Mowry (THE REAL, SISTER SISTER) and her husband Adam Housley. Mowry said, “You never ceased to dream, but most importantly you are always giving God the glory. Thank you for being an example and for daring us all to dream bigger. #tylerperrystudios”
Her husband also posted about the evening via Instagram.
Producers Roma Downey and Mark Burnett were also there. The weekend concluded with a church service (see photo above).
Tiffany Haddish, used her red-carpet appearance to shine a light on Perry’s groundbreaking work.
She said, “Every time that I came to work here at Tyler Perry studios, it was with the biggest smile on my face. Cause I know the history of this place — It was a Confederate union military base,” Haddish recalled. “Now it’s owned by a black man.”
Other big-name stars in attendance include Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Michelle Williams, Samuel L. Jackson, and Patti LaBelle.
