Tyler Perry is known for giving back, especially to the people he loves, but when it starts costing your peace (and your business), even family has to get checked.
During a sit-down on Kirk Franklin’s Den of Kings, Perry opened up about the tough side of success, especially when it comes to helping family, and shared why he had to fire his aunt.
“She said she wanted a job. She’d always call asking for money, and I was sending it,” Perry shared. “But I finally said, ‘I want to help you build this thing, not be welfare to you.’”
Tyler Perry says he fired his aunt after giving her a job because she kept calling in and not showing up—and reveals one family member got mad when he refused to give him a million dollars. pic.twitter.com/Qg8KV9oVzg
— The Art Of Dialogue (@ArtOfDialogue_) July 21, 2025
So Perry gave her a job, but it didn’t work out. “She wasn’t coming in, calling in all the time. I said, ‘Okay. Well, you got to go because you want me to hand you the money, but you don’t want to work for it,” he shared.
And it’s not just about adults. Perry said he’s raising his 10-year-old son the same way, with structure, not handouts.
“There’s certain things he wants. He has to do chores and work for it,” he said. “I don’t believe in giving us things that are just gonna handicap us. That’s the worst thing you can do.”
After his mom passed in 2009, Perry had to reset boundaries with his entire family.
“I sent everyone a letter saying, ‘Listen, you’ve got 60 days to become gainfully employed because I’m not going to keep supporting you like this,’” he said.
At the table with fellow entrepreneur Derrick Hayes, Perry also talked about family resentment when money gets involved.
“I have family that got mad at me because I wouldn’t give them a million dollars,” he said. “If you’re trying to build a business to carry everybody in your family through, that’s one thing. And if you’re trying to do that, then build a business.”
His advice? Sometimes you’ve got to build the boat on your own, then come back and see who’s ready to get on board.
Photo Credit: DepositPhotos.com
