There is a long and tangled history of men wearing dresses in Hollywood. Black comedians like Martin Lawrence and Eddie Murphy have reaped the most financial benefits from this trend. Tyler Perry is one of the few people who amass such wealth. In defence of his actions, Shannon Sharpe claims that he would take the same stance if he were the one collecting Madea’s cheques.
It’s true that Tyler Perry isn’t the first man to produce a movie posing as a woman, but he’s also not the first man, or even one of the first, to turn that idea into a billion-dollar franchise. There is a lot of scrutiny, especially in the black community, because Tyler Perry is a heterosexual guy who
has decided to dress as a woman and wear a wig. Katt Williams has never been a fan of actors playing female characters for laughs. Brandon T. Jackson, an actor, says it single-handedly wrecked his career.
Yet, Tyler Perry continues to use Madea in his films. Perry has built an entertainment empire with her at the helm, including films and television shows. He does all of his filming in a huge studio in Atlanta. It’s so good that Marvel movies have started filming there. Furthermore, he has an alliance with Netflix, which has become the new home for many of his creations. Although he had tried to retire Madea, the streaming giant persuaded him to bring her back.
Recently, Rickey Smiley appeared on Shannon Sharpe’s show, and the two of them talked about male actors who have played female roles for comedic effect. Bernice Jenkins, a fictional character created by Smiley, has become a household name. According to Smiley, the success of these depictions lies in the fact that the female leads are modelled on ladies we “grew up with.” After Sharpe’s inquiry, Smiley revealed that he had worked with Tyler Perry and Niecy Nash on a pilot before Madea’s massive success. Smiley recalls that even back then, Perry had a crystal clear picture of what he wanted, so he is not surprised by Perry’s success.
It is Smiley’s contention that comedians like Tyler, Martin, Jamie Foxx, Robin Williams, and others who have dressed up as women for roles do so because they genuinely like performing in them.