Tyler Perry: Beaten, Molested, Bathed in Ammonia as a Child
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Tyler Perry - best known for his role as the primly Madea in his hit comic film series - has revealed that he was sexually and physically abused as a kid.
"I always thought I would die before I grew up," Perry, 40, writes in a letter to fans on his Web site.
After watching a screening of the movie Precious - which centers on a teen girl struggling to overcome mental and physical abuse - he says he realized "a large part of my childhood had just played out before my eyes."
Perry then recounts the various abuse he suffered.
One night, he says his father "came home, mad at the world. He was drunk, as he was most of the time. He got the vacuum cleaner extension cord and trapped me in a room and beat me until the skin was coming off my back."
He says a neighbor woman molested him at age 10 and that his grandmother tried to to rid him of his allergies by giving him "a bath in ammonia."
"She said she was going to kill these germs on me once and for all," Perry recalled.
Watching Precious - which he executive produced, along with Oprah Winfrey - "hit me so hard," he writes.
"I sat there in tears realizing that somehow, by the grace of God, I made it through," he says. "My tears were tears of joy, being thankful that I made it."
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Looking back, Perry says his faith has gotten him through the tough time. And he says he has learned to forgive.
"Forgiveness has been my weapon of choice," he says. "It has helped to free me."
Before signing off, he writes, "If you're having a hard time getting over something in your life, maybe you can try forgiveness too. It's not easy, but it does bring forth healing.
"I know that there are a lot of people out there with stories far worse than mine but you, too, can make it," he says. "To those of you who have, welcome to life. I celebrate you. We're all PRECIOUS in [God's] sight."
Tell Us What You Think
27I'M SO HAPPY U MADE IT. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW U CAN FORGIVE. WHEN IT'S ALWAYS IN UR HEART. MAKING AND TRYING TO TRUST EVERY DECISION U MAKE.
Tyler, I applaud you. I too came out, by the grace of God. Still struggle, but Jesus is in my heart, filling me with hope, faith, and love daily. I LOVE Tyler Perry!
So sorry for Mr. Perry and for October 07, 2009 - 6:24am Anonymous. I pray that good things will happen for all who hurt so the pain can start to be healed. Every day is a new day and Mr. Perry sure showed all that we can have a new happy life. After all no one on earth has a perfect ife.
SAD :(
People, abusive parents and households in the good old USA, are more the "norm", than kind, loving households. I don't have a friend that doesn't have a horror story to tell about growing up, myself included. Never know what goes on behind closed doors, in every neighborhood in America violence and abuse is going on in about 80% of the households. But like myself, most don't want anyone to know, I didn't want people to know what my dad was like and my mom did nothing about it. She was weak. Happens daily in families, no matter what race you are, or rich or poor. Too many parents have control and anger issues which lead to all the abuse, etc. and should NEVER have had kids.
wow i cant believe what he went though..wow..no words can describe how bad that must have been for him!..i love him he is such a good man and may god bless him for many years of happiness.
God has surely blessed you Mr Tyler Perry. I commend you and hold you in high regard. Thanks for the laughs!
Regarding previous post-I meant to say He has such a purpose to be here etc.
He has such a purpose to eb here and make us cry and laugh because he understands pain. Unfortunately sometimes those that love us the most hurt us becuase of what they went through, but to overcome is the victory and you Mr. Perry are victorious. Thank you for your art. A true fan.
I love Tyler Perry ,I understand
Wow, he's very courageous to reveal these horrible details from his childhood. Thank God he was able to endure and grow into a fully productive adult who brings a lot of joy to others! God Bless you, Tyler.
Forgiveness isn't for the person who did it. It has nothing to do with them. It is simply "letting go" of the hate, anger and resentment. When you forgive, all the bad feelings you've held onto just go away. I was never abused as a child, but I was treated wrongly as an adult. When you hold onto it, it's only you that pays for it. When you forgive, you just let go of the bad stuff & accept what happened.
I love this gorgeous human being! Much love and respect, Mr. Perry.
God bless! I will try to forgive my mom. Thanks Tyler.
when I hear the Parent Molested they child I get angry and mad about It have tree kids I will never molested. my our child.
I still don't know how people can treat vulnerable children so horribly. I'm glad that Mr. Perry has managed to triumph and has chosen to let go of such negativity.
I have so much respect for this man. His movies all have a positive message and it is so sad to know that he went through such horror as a child. God bless him.
Good for him. He is very talented and is a role model for the "black" community. I'm glad he survived because Madea is funny as heck.
Best part: "I know that there are a lot of people out there with stories far worse than mine but you, too, can make it," he says. "To those of you who have, welcome to life. I celebrate you." I've made it . . I suffered horrible abuse as a child, completely self-destructive in my 20s, and now I am happier than I ever imagined possible. My weapon of choice was friendship . . really doing everything I could to stay in relationship with people I loved, which involved cleaning up my act and rejecting the continued abuse of my parents. To all the people struggling out there . . you can do it. Keep telling the truth, be kind to yourself, be kind to others . . real happiness IS possible.
I like his work, it makes me sad to think he went through so much horror as a child.