Actress Tasha Smith Shares Her Initial Thoughts On Producer Tyler Perry In Resurfaced Wendy Williams Interview

Tyler Perry is single these days and back on the market. While many women may be lining up to be courted by the billionaire, it’s been said over the years that Perry does not always give off the most alluring energy. While some women may find him desirable, it’s hard to read if he desires them back. Co-star and frequent collaborator Tasha Smith opened up about the time she believed Perry was asexual.

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Tyler Perry was introduced to many as the wise-cracking Madea, an elderly woman with a sharp tongue. While he would frequently play male roles in his films, too, it would be years before any of his characters had any love interest, and by then, many just did not see Perry as someone who had any romantic interest. If anything, Perry was often accused of being gay or closeted.

Perry would emerge in 2014 with a real-life love interest in Ethiopian model Gelila Bekele and a child, Aman Tyler. Perry had reportedly been with Beleke since the mid-2000s but kept their relationship hush. Perry was thrilled to be a father and opened up about how his life had changed. He and Bekele told the story of her having to break the news over Facetime due to Tyler being away when she found out she was expecting.

This is what a midlife crisis looks like. I’m 51, single and wondering what the next chapter in my life will look like. Whatever it looks like I’m going to walk with God, be the best father and… continued: https://t.co/gLHyNwRauG pic.twitter.com/3eXzXU2BEb

— Tyler Perry (@tylerperry) December 17, 2020

Aman has been very protected by his dad, who has yet to share pictures of his boy. Perry, who had a very traumatic childhood, insists on giving Aman a peaceful upbringing outside of the madness of Hollywood. “My son’s not famous. We’re trying very hard to keep him protected so that he can know who he is before he gets into the crazy bull crap of this social media world.”

In the years since, Perry and Beleke have gone their separate ways. Tyler has joked about having a mid-life crisis and has used his newfound freedom to get back in the gym and show folks a different side of him. The visibly beefier Perry almost broke the internet one day with a post-gym workout snap that many considered to be a thirst trap. “Well… that’s a good-looking mid-life crisis!!!!!! ,” said one fan. Another person said, “Tyler Perry setting up the perfect thirst trap for women over 35.”

Perry has even joked in recent years about how he used the Madea voice in the bedroom. The hilarious clip went viral after he was asked during a Vanity Fair lie detector if the voice ever slipped out when he was not in character. “Sometimes — once — on occasion — okay, during [intimacy].” While he’s way more open about his intimate side these days, Tasha Smith used to joke that Perry reminded her of an “uncle that never has s**.” While promoting a film on The Wendy Williams show.

Tasha said she was shocked Perry was expecting a child. “I used to think he was asexual. I didn’t think he had sex at all!” Perry proved her wrong.