Tyler Perry is an entrepreneur, actor, playwright, and filmmaker hailing from the United States. He is widely recognized for his iconic portrayal of Madea, a resilient elderly woman, which he both created and plays. Perry’s filmmaking style is diverse, ranging from conventional techniques to recorded versions of stage productions. Several of his plays have been transformed into full-length feature films over time.
In recognition of his significant contributions to the entertainment industry and philanthropic efforts, Tyler Perry was named one of Time’s 100 most influential people in 2020. He received the Governors Award from the Primetime Emmy Awards in the same year and the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award from the Academy Awards in the following year. Recently, in 2022, Perry was inducted into the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame.
Apart from his professional life, Tyler’s personal life is a matter of discussion now. In this post, we’ll take a closer look at his relationships and find the answer to the question: Is Tyler Perry married?
Is Tyler Perry Married: Look Into His Relationships
Tyler Perry’s most notorious and enduring relationship was with Gelia Bekele, an Ethiopian model aged 35. Although Perry has never been married, he was involved with Bekele from 2009 to 2020.
Bekele was born and raised in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where she lived until the age of nine, after which she relocated to Europe. In 2006, her modeling career took off shortly after she was discovered while attending UC Berkeley for a year.
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Bekele and Perry first crossed paths in 2007 while attending a Prince concert. Although their relationship ended in 2020, they reportedly maintain a close friendship, according to People. In addition to her thriving modeling profession, Bekele is a talented photographer, social activist, and documentary filmmaker.
Tyler Perry Background
Tyler Perry was born Emmitt Perry Jr. to Willie Maxine Perry (née Campbell) and Emmitt Perry Sr., a carpenter, in New Orleans, Louisiana. Perry grew up with three siblings, and his childhood was a difficult and challenging time that he later referred to as a “living hell”. However, despite the struggles, Perry found solace and comfort in attending church with his mother every week.
At age 16, Perry legally changed his name from Emmitt to Tyler in an attempt to distance himself from his father. In his early 20s, he was inspired to pursue a writing career after hearing someone describe the therapeutic effect that writing can have. This led him to write a series of letters to himself, which ultimately became the foundation for his musical, I Know I’ve Been Changed.
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In later years, Perry publicly disclosed that he was molested by a friend’s mother at age 10, as well as by three men prior to that. He also revealed that his own father had molested his friend. Perry took a DNA test that confirmed Emmitt Sr. was not his biological father. Although he did not complete high school, Perry earned a General Educational Development (GED).