Walter Hampton, an old acquaintance of Tyler Perry, claims the playwright was openly gay prior to achieving his renowned status. Recently, Tyler’s private life was thrust into the spotlight when a former staff member filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against him.
Aspiring actor Derek Dixon, who portrayed the pharmacist Dale on “The Oval,” has filed a $260 million suit against Tyler, accusing him of inappropriate workplace conduct.
In previous interviews, Tyler voiced his exasperation over the relentless inquiries into his sexuality. “I believe everyone deserves privacy – myself included,” he stated.
However, Walter maintains that Tyler was living his truth as a gay man in Atlanta long before his rise to fame.
“He was living openly before the fame,” Walter noted. “But once he achieved success, he became concerned about his audience’s perceptions.”
In a Facebook message, Walter expressed: “No one should be shocked by the accusations against Tyler Perry. This situation has existed for years. Finally, someone has come forward! The others live in dread.”
Tyler kickstarted his career by portraying a spirited older female character named Mabel “Madea” Simmons in Atlanta theaters. By 1998, word of mouth had transformed Tyler’s stage plays into a desirable attraction around town, with recordings flying off the shelves.
His initial audience primarily consisted of traditional black church women, with his acclaimed plays traveling along the “Chitlin’ Circuit” throughout the South.
In 2005, Forbes magazine reported that Tyler had generated over $100 million in ticket sales, $30 million in video sales, and $20 million in merchandise. An average of 35,000 individuals attended his shows weekly.
Yet, Tyler maintained a concealed gay lifestyle, hidden from his conservative black female audience.
In the 1990s and 2000s, Tyler was occasionally spotted in the company of younger black men who could be characterized as sex workers.
Tyler has not addressed the allegations from his former employee in public. After the lawsuit made headlines last week, he attended his friend Beyoncé’s concerts in Paris, France.