Entertainment Svengali Tyler Perry has just announced his latest project: a new TV series about the behind-the-scenes world of male strippers.
Deadline reports that Perry–the one-man entertainment factory best known for the Madea film series–will produce the new show, titled All the Queen’s Men for BET+. The series will revolve around a beautiful, female entrepreneur who oversees a high-class strip joint in Atlanta. The series will film on location in the city as well, which is also the home of Tyler Perry Studios.
“I began my career in this direct-to-consumer business, so I know it well,” Perry said in a statement. “I know how much my audience value and seek our great content, anchored in our culture and experiences. BET+ is home to an extraordinary array of content including my movies, series, dramas, sitcoms and stage plays. I can’t wait to create even more great content for the BET+ viewers.”
Related: Tyler Perry Wears Orange Face
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We’re already getting Magic Mike and P-Valley vibes from the premise, though when it comes to Perry’s history, we temper expectations. Throughout his career Tyler Perry has endured charges of homophobia in his work. His film For Colored Girls–an adaptation of a stage show–inserted a subplot about a closeted African-American man giving his wife HIV. Perry would also use a similar plot twist in his film Temptation. More recently, Perry came under fire for the portrayal of the character Jeffrey Harrington on the soap opera The Haves and the Have Nots. In an opinion essay for Ebony, Gerren Keith Gaynor slammed Perry for characterizing Jeffrey as a “sexual demon,” and for propagating homophobia within the African-American community.
In other words, whereas Magic Mike and, in particular, P-Valley, both embraced the homoeroticism of their respective premises, we have a feeling Perry’s new show will not if his existing career offers any indication. On the other hand, Perry has used his Atlanta studio space to open an LGBTQ youth shelter, so perhaps his tune has changed. Maybe Perry will use the new show as an opportunity to explore queer culture and homophobia within the African-American community. Now that’s a show we’d watch.
Kangol2
He’s an impresario, certainly, but a Svengali? Svengali means someone who “with evil intent, dominates, manipulates and controls another” (wiki definition). Tyler Perry is flawed but he isn’t evil, and he isn’t dominating and controlling other people. Sheesh. We just voted a Svengali out of the White House, though!
At any rate, let’s see what Tyler Perry comes up with. His representations of LGBTQ characters seem to mirror his internal conflicts. Sometimes, as in for colored girls, they’re outright homophobic and clichéd; at other times, as in The Haves and Have Nots, he does portray an out gay character who actually pushes back against the anti-gay attitudes of others (like the character’s mother), yet Perry and his writers also engage in stereotypical and clichéd tropes and storylines. P-Valley in particular has set the bar higher for LGBTQ representation when it comes to male strippers (a bit of a cliché itself, but OK), so maybe he’s taking a few pointers. I hope so. At any rate, he could also look to Noah’s Arc, Pose, and the various web series of the early and mid 2000s for some good pointers on how to explore the lives of everyday non-sex worker Black LGBTQ people, especially Black gay and bi men.
Donston
Apparently, it’s not “and his writers”. Perry prides himself on writing all the scripts for the movies he directs and all the scripts for his TV dramas. He has very difficult time writing interesting, non one-note, non archetypical characters in general. Even a large percentage of his core audience (black women) have been calling out his inane and sometimes problematic storytelling in recent years. I mean, the core “moral” to so many of his movies seem to be that black women should limit their standards and expectations and would all be cool if they found a broke but hardworking and decent looking Christian man. And he doesn’t seem to know how to present female characters who aren’t spending most of their time being traumatized by a black man. His lack of desire to assist other black creatives has also been criticized. The dude just doesn’t have much of any talent outside of pure entertainment. So, I wouldn’t expect any interesting, nuanced “queer representation”. While his business approach has been kinda shady and hypocritical.
Let’s be frank, Perry has likely always contended with religious guilt, and he has hid behind religion. While he’s also likely struggled with past traumas, insecurities and ego, internalized phobias, the nature and dimensions of his sexuality, and where he is in the gender, romantic, sexual, affection, emotional investment, relationship contentment spectrum. All of this is as clear as day to anyone who knows better. But for the most part, I just let him live.
cuteguy
Didn’t Vivica A Fox have a similar show about male strippers and made controversial homophobic remarks? Why are black ppl so homophobic? If anyone can understand the plight of the oppressed gay man it should be the black community. They will prob hide behind religion again to mask their homophobia
dinard38
Well, you just stated a big part of the reason: religion. Religion plays a big role in the African American community (unfortunately). But I think a bigger reason is just the toxic masculinity that is pervasive among black and Latino men. They perceive gay as being effeminate (it’s like they have this narrow scope of what being gay is), and the worse thing a man can be in the black and Latino world is a sissy, because it means you’re weak. Not manly and butch. A weak ass punk. And that’s a no no.
I’m somewhat oversimplifying the issue, because it goes deeper than masculinity and religion. I just think that those two are huge components.
Kangol2
@notcuteguy, Of course you had to sign on here to make a racist comment. Are Black people in general or Black politicians in particularly trying to take away your rights as a gay man or oppress you? NO. Are millions of White people and an entire party, primarily made up of White politicians who represent them? Yes. Did you generalize about an entire race of people based on one person, Vivica Fox, who is not homophobic but made a stupid anti-gay statement? Yes. Did you generalize about all White people despite numerous White politicians actively trying to take away your rights as a gay person? NO. You know what that makes you? An outright racist. Please, go away.
cuteguy
@Kanhole2, first of all, I’m not a racist. I’m just stating facts about the religious black community and second I’m not naive to know that the GQP consists of mostly white middle aged losers. Third, Vivica is a proven homophobe and lastly, by you defending her, I’m realizing you are being subtle but I can spot a GQP troll from a mile away. Be gone troll, you are cancelled. Your party loves to talk about “cancel culture”. Now you can be part of the story. I’m so sick of the GQP trolls invading our space on here. Go back to Fox News
Donston
You know damn well kangol2 is not a troll or a Conservative. Your post was incendiary, accusatory and had absolutely no nuance. You just wanted to get away with throwing shade at black people. Otherwise, that is not how you would have worded things. More than anything, stop being a lame who accuses everyone of being a “troll” when they disagree with you or call out your problematic, broad-stroking, shallow observations.
cuteguy
@Conston It’s so obvious when GQP trolls stick together. Or it could be the same troll with diff screen names, who knows? Just wish you guys would stay on Faux News instead of disturbing the peace here. You’re not wanted here. Pls go away
Donston
A couple of black people tell you you’re coming off a bit racist and your “insight” is shallow and one-note and incendiary. So, you accuse them of being Conservatives who are obsessed with Fox News? Either you really are trying to divert from your hate and comments and direct attention elsewhere, or you yourself are just a basic troll. Either way, find something better to do.
Heywood Jablowme
Queerty, please check the IP address of “cuteguy” and if it’s the same person as anybody else here…
Vince
The homophobia in the black community comes from Religion and toxic masculinity. All you have to do is look at some Rap and you’ll see the women looking like hookers on the street corner. It’s incredibly misogynistic and where ever you find misogyny you’ll always find homophobia.
Liquid Silver
Black guys can be as bigoted as white guys. Shrug. This is not exactly a shocker.
Mr. Stadnick
I find both the article and comments to be troubling.
ShowMeGuy
Vivica A Fox’s Black Magic meets Magic Mike XXL meets Chocolate City: Vegas Strip.
Bring it, I’ll consume it. Twice.
I ain’t too proud to beg.
cuteguy
If you’re not a cis woman, you’re not welcome there
BoomerMyles
BET? Not likely to be seen by many. Besides, Tyler Perry is STILL a homophobe.
juCarCarV
Anyone else get a closeted gay vibe from him?
MISTERJETT
big time!!!!!
linedrive
Absolutely
Openminded
I’ve always thought he enjoyed dressing as women in his movies too much not to at least lean that way.
trell
So…..possibly homophobic-but-we-are-not-100%-sure producer is to create a show that may-or-may-not-have the LGBT community as a target audience, but is still worth mentioning because “Male Strippers=YUM!!”….
……is that the gist of this article?
Jim
How can one ignore the homoeroticism of male strippers much less the fact that so many of them are “straight for pay”?
BaltoSteve
The premise sounds more like something that would have a market on VH1 than BET.
Vince
I did try watching a Madea movie one time but it was just too hard to get into it for more then 15 minutes. Definitely not my cup of tea.
Cam
Honestly I always got kind of a closet case vibe off of him.
twomen4u
As I read the comments I see a rush to judgment before the trial is even held. In life wisdom comes with age (75) I have adopted the wait and see attitude even with Tyler Perry. If the show turns out to be bad or worse, then is the appropriate time to condemn. I am willing to give him a chance are you?
Donston
I really don’t think many here care about this product. (Thought I guess some are like “yay, male strippers!”). The point of the article and many of many of the comments is to talk about how awful Tyler’s productions have been and also his discomfort with “queerness” and how generally problematic a lot of his storytelling has been throughout the years.
spiralx
Anyone who wants some gay interest can always watch Netflix’ Spanish series “Toy Boy”, which got very good reviews all over.
MISTERJETT
they say it will be “not gay”, but we know it will be.
jaleoman
I would love to see high profile black celebrity like Tyler Perry to come out. I know of people that have dated him and he obviously has been struggle with his sexuality and internal homophobia. The Latino community is also very homophobic. Ricky Martin is a Latin music legend, considered one of the biggest Latin artists in history and when he came out there were a lot of love for him but also a lot of hate. And many Latinos in the media had to change their homophobic attitude but he helped a lot the LGBT Latino movement. Now you have people like : Bad Bunny and J. Balvin that color their hair or paint their nails
Thad
I’m all for this project. It will provide employment for people in Atlanta. But I have no expectations at all about the production itself. I expect “Madea” level nonsense. A reviewer said she wasn’t recognizably even human.
Doug
I can’t believe Perry still hasn’t come out of the closet by now.