Tyler Perry’s Fans Respond With Their Own Testimonials After Actor Reveals He Was Abused In a candid confession on his popular blog, actor/director Tyler Perry revealed he was both physically and sexually abused as a child (http://www.tylerperry.com/_Messages/). A couple of years ago he made this same revelation on the Oprah show when he came to the aid of another famous sexual abuse survivor, Laveranues Coles, an NFL player. However, this is the first time Perry has publicly given details about the perpetrators and nature of the abuse. The harrowing details outline abuse suffered at the hands of his father, who physically beat him with an extension cord, and his mother, who bathed him in ammonia. The revelation comes at the onset of the soon-to-be released “Precious," a movie based on the story of teen pregnant with her father’s child. Although Perry has addressed sexual abuse issues in many of his previous productions, “Precious" is not a Tyler Perry project. However, it is endorsed by both he and Oprah Winfrey. “I didn't write it or direct it, nor am I making any money from it," Perry wrote in his blog. “Oprah and I both are giving any proceeds we would make to charity. I just wanted to get as many people to see it as I can. It gave me so much hope after watching it. For everyone who has been a “Precious," male or female, this movie will make you so glad you made it through." Judging by the hundreds of responses already posted on his message board, Perry has done just that. Countless women and men have responded with accolades and testimonies of their own childhood abuse. “I'm a 50 year old woman who knows your pain. I haven't dwelled on it through my life but when I read your message it touched me so and I'm overcome by emotion. The child I was years ago also lived in a lonely, confusing dark world. Your message of forgiveness is so beautiful and true. Know that in my heart I'm hugging you and the little boy in you at this very moment. There is truly a God," a fan Karen wrote on his board. For more information on sexual abuse prevention, or to view a list of other famous African-American sexual abuse survivors that have gone public, go here: www.blacksurvivors.org. Sylvia Coleman is a sexual abuse educator, and author of “Creating a New Normal: Cleaning Up a Dysfunctional Life," a book that chronicles her recovery from sexual abuse, homelessness and clinical depression: www.thesylviasite.com.
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