In a revealing conversation on Kirk Franklin’s Den of Kings podcast, media mogul Tyler Perry offered a rare glimpse into how he handles financial requests from family—especially when they clash with his values around work ethic. In a moment that blended humor with conviction, Perry shared that he once fired his own aunt after she repeatedly failed to show up for a job he had given her.
Job Offer Gone Wrong
“She said she wanted a job,” Perry explained. “She would always call to ask for money.” Hoping to empower rather than enable her, he offered her a position instead of continuing to write checks. But the plan quickly unraveled. According to Perry, his aunt began calling in sick and missing days altogether. “That doesn’t work for me,” he said firmly. “You want me to hand you the money, but you don’t want to work for it.”
Perry said the decision to let her go wasn’t easy, but it was necessary. For him, the issue was about principle, not just punctuality. “I want to help you build this thing, not be welfare to you,” he emphasized. The anecdote wasn’t meant to embarrass his aunt but to illustrate a larger point about how he chooses to help those around him.
That philosophy also guides how he’s raising his ten-year-old son. Perry explained that even his child is expected to work for things. “I don’t believe in giving things that are just gonna handicap us,” he said, pointing out that unearned comfort can breed dependency rather than growth.
His stance on accountability isn’t limited to close relatives, either. After his mother’s death in 2009, Perry sent letters to extended family members, giving them 60 days to find employment if they wanted to continue receiving support. It was a controversial move but one that aligned with his core belief: real help doesn’t always come in the form of handouts.