*A new petition published on Change.org is calling for Oprah Winfrey’s network to remove her friend and business partner Tyler Perry from OWN‘s airwaves, claiming that the filmmaker “perpetuates stereotypes” about the black community.
The petition, created by Eva Vega, uses the infamous phrase from MSNBC’s Toure to describe Perry’s shows as “malt liquor” for the community.”
Perry’s new series, “The Haves and the Have Nots,” premiered Tuesday night on OWN as the highest-rated series premiere on the network, while “Love Thy Neighbor” debuted the following day as its second-highest rated premiere.
“For decades Oprah Winfrey has used her television show to educate, empower, and uplift people of all races to be better versions of themselves. OWN has committed to be an extension of this work,” the petition reads. However, the petition argues, OWN’s association with Perry tarnishes that legacy.
“Where it is clear that neither Oprah or Tyler Perry are not experts on race and racism, they have also refused to utilize feedback from the conscious Black community and scholars on racism regarding the damage that Tyler Perry and his brand of entertainment perpetuate against the Black community,” the petition continues.
Likening Perry to malt liquor, Vega’s online campaign reads, “His entertainment is hurtful to the Black community. He perpetuates stereotypes and has no place on OWN.”
At press time, the petition has amassed just 30 supporters.
Read the full petition here.
SOURCE: EURweb.com
Article and Picture Courtesy of EUR Web
