The nation was shocked when 17-year-old Jordan Turpin escaped her family’s California home in 2018 and reported her parents for horrific abuse. Six years later, Oprah Winfrey just revealed a surprising update on the lives of the Turpin children involving the one and only Tyler Perry.
For years, David and Louise Turpin secretly abused their 13 children verbally, mentally, and physically. According to CNN, the parents were eventually sentenced to 25 years to life for torture and child endangerment in 2019— even revealing the children, ages 2-29 at the time, were starved and shackled while living in filthy conditions. After the trial, the children were left without their parents, any financial support, or proper education.
When the news of their story made it’s way to Perry, the filmmaker decided to do something. “Diane Sawyer did a primetime special on these children who had been tortured and abused and locked in their home by their parents,” Winfrey told audience members at the Paley Honors Fall Gala.
“Tyler saw that special, and he reached out, and until this moment, no one has known that Tyler Perry has been taking care of those now almost grown children, making sure they have the financial, the psychological and the emotional support to grow themselves forward,” she said.
Perry doesn’t boast about his work outside of producing “Madea” classics, but Winfrey said that’s the difference between him and most others. “The majority of people watch the news and they think, ‘Oh, what a shame.’ Tyler watches and says, ‘What can I do to make a change?’” she continued.
Perry Helping out Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
The Turpin case isn’t the only time Perry stepped in to lend a helping hand. In 2020, he opened up his home to Prince Harry and Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle after the couple stepped down from their royal duties following the racist treatment Markle received after marrying into the Royal family, The Root reported.
“It was a very difficult time for them,” Perry said. “What I know about the two of them, that I wish the world knew, is how much they love—these two people love each other. They found each other—out of all these odds against them finding each other, they found each other. The love they have is really, really moving, and I just wanted to do anything I could to support them.”
Perry Paying Cicely Tyson Her Worth
Before the death of Hollywood giant Cicely Tyson in 2021, Perry made sure to give her flowers and pay her worth down to the dollar.
Perry told The AARP Magazine in 2022, “I’ve never said this publicly, but I took care of Ms. Tyson for the last 15 years of her life. She was a proud woman, and the only reason I mention this is because she wrote it in her book.” He continued saying, “This woman had done so many amazing things, but she wasn’t well compensated for it. She made $6,000 for Sounder, you know? I wanted to make sure she knew that there were people who valued her.”
Regardless of your opinion of Perry and his.... interesting filmography, you have to admit, the man is for the people. From his philanthropy with the Turpin children all the way to helping out British royals in need, it’s clear Perry is enacting real change with his wealth, and for that, we give him props!