Tyler Perry says his interest in buying a majority stake in BET following news that Paramount was exploring a sale is far from rumor.
The producer and studio owner, a longtime partner of BET, recently dispelled the idea that he wasn’t fully interested in the network. speaking Entertainment tonight at Tyler Perry Studios.
“Rumor? No, it’s not a rumor,” Perry said. “I’ve been there for four years now and had tremendous success. I didn’t expect this to happen, so yeah… If possible, I’ll go as many of these as I can to take.
The Hollywood Reporter some interesting news from Perry, whose deal with Paramount in 2017 is reportedly expiring soon. If he could make the purchase, the majority stake in BET would make the mogul owner of the brand that broadcasts many of his shows. At the time, multiple sources told the magazine that sales were still in their infancy, as did other interested buyers, such as Bryon Allen and P. Diddy.
While speaking to ET, the actor, writer, producer, and studio owner explained the reasoning behind his strong interest in buying a stake in BET, noting that doing so would return the network to a black owner.
“I think there was sadness when Bob sold it, and I think there will be happiness when it’s Black-owned again,” Perry said. “Even though Shari is (Redstone) and what is it? Viacom and Paramount? They did a phenomenal job with it. They didn’t just drop it; they did not let it go to dust. They cherished it and cared for it. And to see Shari in this position saying, “I think it should be returned to a black owner?” I thought, ‘OK, look, that’s my kind of person.’”
Perry added that despite competition for ownership, he is ultimately excited about the fact that there are several black figures who can be part of these conversations and make a claim in the black-focused network.
“I’ve read about Byron Allen and Puffy and anyone who wants to bid and so on and I think it’s really great,” he said. “This is what I love about it – when Bob Johnson sold it in 2000, I think there wasn’t one black person who could buy it. So now, to see all these black people, men and women, who are in be able to buy it Man, that makes me feel very, very excited.
decisive, THR reported, is expected to retain a minority interest in the company as well as a commercial relationship.
