Jesus: Not Welcome in Hollywood

Tyler Perry, the author-director of movies such as Diary of a Mad Black Woman and Madea’s Family Reunion and the actor who will appear as the head of the Starfleet Academy in the new Star Trek movie, said that Jesus is not welcome in Hollywood.

In an article published in Time, Perry said “that he’d been asked to produce a TV comedy series but turned it down because it couldn’t be religious.” According to the article, Perry told a group of admirers:

“Did you know you can’t say ‘Jesus’ in a sitcom?” “They told me that, and I was like, You gotta be kiddin’ me. If you don’t want my God here, you don’t want me here either. God has been too good to me to go and try to sell out to get some money. That’s O.K. I will sit in a corner and be broke with the Lord before I will sit there and have them give me millions and sell my soul. It ain’t gonna happen.”

It seems that there are still a few people in Hollywood who will put God above money. After all, as Jesus said, “You cannot serve God and money” (Matthew 6:24).

Claude Mariottini
Professor of Old Testament
Northern Baptist Seminary

Tags: Hollywood, Jesus, Money, Tyler Perry