Tyler Perry is ready to add more titles to his name!
The actor and producer has confirmed his intention to acquire the popular American cable channel that targets the black community, Black Entertainment Television (BET). The TV station is owned by CBS Entertainment Group unit Paramount Global through BET Networks, with offices in New York City, Los Angeles and Chicago.
Terry Perry ‘Very Interested’ In Acquiring BET From Its Current Owners
Perry has confirmed that speculation that he is focused on acquiring Paramount’s majority stake in the TV network if the opportunity presents itself is accurate. Without mincing words, he recently stated:
“Rumor? No, it’s not a rumor. I have been there for four years and have [had] tremendous success. I didn’t expect this to happen, so, yeah — if that’s possible, I’m very interested in taking as much as possible.”
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Even though the “Madea” creator knows a long list of celebrities, including P. Diddy and Bryon Allen, who have the same show as him, he’s still excited about the idea. Clarified that the head of “Diary of a Mad Black Woman” told ET:
“This is what I love about it. When Bob Johnson [BET co-founder] sold it in 2000, I thought it was, not one black person could buy it. So now, to see all these black people, men and women, who can afford to be in a position to buy it? Man, that makes me very, very excited.”
The acclaimed filmmaker went on to admit that while the current owner — Shari Redstone — has done a “tremendous job” of keeping BET’s vision alive, there will be “happiness when it’s Black again.”
Perry revealed that Redstone had no problem returning the station to a black owner, indicating that discussions were underway with a final resolution near. Opting to keep the timeline of the acquisition official, the 53-year-old screenwriter added, “We can say that there are conversations. I am not interested.”
As for his acquisition competition – Diddy, The Blast reports that the rapper shared his reasons for buying his beloved cable channel with his fans last month. The “I’ll Be Missing You” hitmaker uploaded a screenshot of a tweet addressing the issue on Instagram, with the words reading:
“Media is the most powerful industry in the world but it is the industry where we have the least amount of ownership, influence and control! It’s time for @BET to be naturally Black so we have the power to tell our own stories, control our own narrative! This is not about me but about US!!!!”
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The record producer claims he is developing “a team of leaders in culture to pursue ownership” of media properties. He also told his fans that there needs to be unity in “our power and resources” if they want to “create real change!”
The founder of Combs Wines & Spirits has since deleted the post.
Madea Star Takes Another Chance
Perry backed his talk with action when he revealed his intention to purchase the building to prevent the FDA Lab from moving into it. According to The Blast, the “Sistas” showrunner wants to buy the Forces Command building, a former United States military training complex across the street from his Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta.
His main concern about the FDA lab owning it arose from the toll that the fumes from the suit would have on many of his cast and crew if they inhaled it consistently. Unfortunately, the director missed his first chance to acquire the property — called McPherson Implementing Local Redevelopment Authority (MILRA) — after it was sold to Easterly Government Properties in 2019.
Plans for the FDA lab to be up and running by 2021 have yet to materialize, giving Perry his second chance. “I would happily buy the building at a premium to not have a chimney on the property. If they don’t sell the building to me, the best outcome is not having a chimney with an environmental impact in an all-black neighborhood,” explained the father of one.
Mark Bauer, Easterly Government Properties’ executive vice president for the FDA, has denied Perry’s claims.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
