Tyler Perry is showing his support for the Hollywood studio marriage of David Ellison’s Skydance Media with Paramount Global. The reported $8 billion deal will see Ellison become chairman and CEO of a boosted Paramount while former NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell will serve as president.
When asked on the red carpet at the New York premiere for his latest film “Divorce in the Black” if he had been talking to Paramount about the updates, Perry told Variety he already had a conversation about the recent turn of events: “They haven’t reached out as much as I have reached out to them to say I’m really excited about this next chapter.”
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The entertainment titan also spoke about other big shifts in the industry that involve his productions. Just this April, Perry struck a new multi-year deal with BET Media Group that includes the renewal of eight of his shows for BET and its BET+ streamer.
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On July 2, Bloomberg reported, citing anonymous sources, that Paramount Global is in discussions to sell BET in a deal valued at $1.6 billion-$1.7 billion to “buyers that include” BET CEO Scott Mills and Chinh Chu, founder of private-equity firm CC Capital.
“I’m a huge fan of Scott and if this is a deal that he can work out and make happen, I’m 100% supportive,” Perry said. “Between Shari Redstone and him, they’re the reason that I’m here. They’ve been fantastic to work with. I love working with Scott every day, and I will continue to work with him wherever in whatever capacity he is in.”
At the screening, Perry was joined by the film’s cast members Meagan Good, Cory Hardrict, Taylor Polidore, Richard Lawson, Debbi Morgan, Shannon Wallace and Joseph Lee Anderson.
Good, who also is a producer on the movie, explained to Variety what it was like to work inside the coveted Perry production bubble both in front of the camera and behind the scenes.
“Producing alongside someone who values everything that you bring to the table – especially when you’ve been around as long as I have – you don’t always feel that way,” she said of Perry. “It is pretty special.”
The film follows Good’s character Ava who is devastated when her husband Dallas abandons their marriage. She once was willing to fight for the relationship until his atrocious deeds sabotage Ava’s need to find a true soulmate.
The premiere hosted other notable attendees including Good’s boyfriend, embattled actor Jonathan Majors, along with Gayle King, Sherri Shepherd, Nick Barrotta and Melissa Gorga.
Good also took time to reflect on why it was important to work on a project which focuses on important social issues such as escaping abusive relationships and fighting for a better life.
“I want people to feel empowered,” Good said. “Every woman, every man who sees this – whether they’ve gone through domestic abuse, whether they’ve gone through divorce, whether they’ve gone through heartbreak, whatever it is – to just feel how important they are, how lovable they are, how worthy they are, how they don’t have to settle, and how sometimes the worst moments in life are actually blessings. And sometimes the things that we think are kind of like destroying our lives are sometimes giving us new life in a different way.”
“Divorce in the Black” premieres July 11 on Amazon Prime Video.
See photos from the premiere below.
