Tyler Perry Breaks Down Over Childhood Trauma During Acceptance Speech

Tyler Perry gave an emotionally-charged acceptance speech Wednesday at the Paley Honors Fall Gala at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, California.

The first thing he did when he took the microphone was apologize for being unable to finish his interviews in the press line earlier that evening, according to People. Perry told the crowd a journalist had presented a photograph of the actor at 5 years old that was taken by his late mother, and the famous actor and filmmaker admitted it triggered traumatic memories for him.

He told the audience he once had suicidal thoughts and said his “earliest memory” of his youth was “being very young [and visiting] jail, with my mother and my sisters behind bars,” according to People. Perry then noted that he has been processing childhood trauma through therapy during his adult years.

“It’s been 15 years, almost to the day, that she passed, so this time of year is really, really difficult for me,” Perry said as he referenced his mother.

“When he showed me that picture, I want to apologize to you guys because I lost it. I couldn’t even finish the press line. But I’m here.”

.@tylerperry reflects on being honored by the Paley Center for Media and says he’s “floored” to have support from friends like Meghan Markle and Oprah. 👏 pic.twitter.com/XzaE2BO0pz

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Perry went on to say that at the age of 54, he tried something he had never done before.

“I went into this intensive therapy in Arizona. And being in that moment in Arizona, I was able to really start to deal with something: the effects of trauma in my life,” he said.

He addressed the memory he had of attending the jail.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 15: Tyler Perry attends Tyler Perry’s Mea Culpa Premiere at The Paris Theatre on February 15, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Noam Galai/Getty Images for Netflix)

“I didn’t even know what this memory was until my aunt told me about my mother trying to leave my father. And we were driving to California from Louisiana in her car, and it was in his name,” Perry said, according to People.

“So he reported the car stolen, and we all were arrested and sat in the jail, waiting for him to come,” he recalled.

Meghan Markle and Tyler Perry attend The Paley Center for Media Hosts Paley Honors Fall Gall Honoring Tyler Perry at Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills, California.
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Perry went on to say he remembered being a “little boy, watching this man beat my mother all the way back to Louisiana.” He described an early childhood memory, saying he recalled “hiding under the porch, waiting” for his mother. He continued. saying “he had beaten me bloody,” referencing his father.

Perry told those present that he was raped, according to People. He claimed he also experienced trauma when a teacher killed his beloved pet hamster right in front of him.