As if Tyler Perry and Oprah Winfrey weren't rich enough solo...the two friends have joined forces to take over media....and every bank in reach. Check out their brand new ESSENCE June 2103 cover inside...
Tyler Perry recently struck a deal with his old pal Lady O to give her and her OWN network the exclusive rights to every original TV show written, directed & produced by TP himself. So how did these two make a friends-with-money relationship work to the fullest? By stating up front they wouldn't let business interfere with their friendship. A different type of black love that will have more long lasting power in our culture and beyond than many may realize. Loves it.
A few highlights from the issue:
Oprah on the rare occasion of two powerful people coming together: "We both know how rare this is," says Oprah. "Where else in the history of our African-American culture have two really, really successful people who can do whatever they want said, 'Let’s come together and be even more powerful—let’s take it to the tenth power?'"
Tyler on mixing their friendship with business:"...The most important thing about coming together was making sure we would not lose our friendship because of the business. We had to establish ground rules. The main one: Both of us have to continue to live in our truth. If she doesn’t like something, say it. If I don’t like something, I’ll say it. And we’ll figure it out and keep moving on…”
Tyler's dropping two new original series on OWN this season: "The Haves and the Have Nots" (premiering May 28) and the sitcom "Love Thy Neighbor" (May 29). He says O “challenged me to push myself in terms of my writing and level of thinking." Hopefully she challenges him on his upsetting choices for lacefronts and wiggery for the actors in his films.
Hope it all works out! The June 2013 issue hits stands May 10.