Tyler Perry is usually as quiet as a church mouse about his romantic life, so his fans were thrilled when he stepped out with a woman named G.B. But he kept most of the details about their romance away from the public eye, which made people wonder if the relationship was legit. Well, RRG managed to dig up some interesting information about this mysterious situation, and we’re going to share all the juicy details. I need to know the tea, girl! Before we dive deep into other people’s business, don’t forget to grab something to munch on at rrgsnacks.com, our online concession stand with an assortment of beef and bacon jerky, gummy sour bears, RRG coffee mugs, and butter toffee peanuts.
Back in 2007, Tyler went to a Prince concert and spotted a stunning Ethiopian-born model named Gelila. While we don’t know the exact date of the concert, we do know Gelila turned 21 that year, and Tyler was 38. According to People magazine, they spent the first two years as friends before officially starting to date in 2009. Tyler told Sister Toister magazine, “We were crazy in love. It was crazy, crazy love between the two of us. It was insane. Insane, huh? Okay.” But they broke up not long after. So, what happened? Tyler shifted his focus back to his work in writing, producing, and directing.
In 2010, Tyler Perry shared his traumatic childhood experiences with Oprah Winfrey. Born Emitt Perry Jr. on September 13, 1969, in New Orleans, Tyler endured severe abuse from his father, describing his early years as “living in hell.” He faced constant beatings, shouting, and name-calling, and would often escape into his imagination, picturing himself in a park to cope with the pain.
Tyler’s mother, Maxine, also suffered abuse from his father and tried several times to leave him. One day, she packed up Tyler and his siblings and drove to California. Unfortunately, when Tyler’s father reported the car stolen, Maxine was arrested. His father and uncle then picked them up and drove them back to Louisiana, during which his father continued to abuse his mother.
Tyler also suffered outside the home, being taken advantage of by both men and women, which left him feeling confused and angry. At 16, he changed his name from Emitt Jr. to Tyler to distance himself from his father. Later, a DNA test revealed that the man he called his father was not his biological parent.
After opening up to Oprah in front of millions, Tyler felt a huge weight lift off his shoulders. In an interview with Sister Toister magazine, he shared that he and Gelila had a heartfelt conversation after the Oprah interview, which was a healing moment for both of them. He admitted, “I know that had I not done the show, she and I probably would have never spoken again.” They reconciled and started dating again. Tyler told the magazine he was deeply in love and could see himself getting married and having kids without anyone finding out. Say what now?
In February 2012, Straight From the A reported that Tyler and Gelila were secretly engaged. But a year and a half later, an anonymous source reached out to the website, claiming that Tyler and Gelila’s relationship was faker than a BBL booty. This is getting messy! The insider said Gelila was only with Tyler for appearances and had a real boyfriend behind the scenes—an entrepreneur named Ronnie Madra. Ronnie who? The insider even provided pictures of Gelila and Ronnie at events during the same time she was supposedly with Tyler. They added, “In reality, it’s a fraud. He’s paying her to be his public girlfriend. I think it’s pathetic for a grown man to lie about who he’s seeing just to save face because he’s on the down low.” Hold up now. So, in other words, the source was alleging that Tyler was using Gelila as his beard. Tyler has faced gay rumors ever since Madea first appeared on the scene. Despite reaffirming his heterosexuality, the rumors about his preferences have persisted.
Following news of his alleged engagement, controversial social media star Walter Lee Hampton publicly claimed that Tyler Perry is gay and used to frequent gay clubs. In an interview with the G-List Society, Walter said, “Tyler has reached out to me many times over the years, trying to silence me and offering me money.” He added, “I don’t need Tyler Perry’s money. I’m not ashamed of who I am, and he shouldn’t be ashamed of who he is.” Shortly after making these claims, Walter appeared online with a severe gash on his face that required 120 stitches. Messy! Online rumors suggested that Tyler had sent someone to harm Walter, but Walter clarified that the injury was caused by a falling glass door.
Meanwhile, Tyler and Gelila continued their work in the entertainment industry. Tyler kept producing projects, and in 2013, Gelila started directing and producing her own films. She also became a vocal advocate for women’s rights, working to create equal opportunities in Ethiopia and abroad. Regarding their relationship, instead of marrying Gelila, Tyler made her the mother of his child. He told People magazine that he got a FaceTime call from Gelila, and when he answered, she was holding a positive pregnancy test. Tyler said, “There’s no other person on this planet that I would want to be involved with or have a child with because she’s amazing.” In December 2014, 28-year-old Gelila and 45-year-old Tyler welcomed their son Aman into the world. Oprah and Cicely Tyson were named as the child’s godmothers. After Aman’s first birthday, Tyler told The Real that his son had changed his life. He said, “He’s a healer for me because I look at him and see myself as a little boy, and I’m able to give him all the love and all the things that I never had.” Tyler also mentioned on The Rickey Smiley Morning Show that he felt more motivated to lose weight so he could be around longer for his son.
In an interview back in October 2016, Tyler talked about his decision to keep his baby boy out of the public eye. He wanted to enjoy parenthood privately and ensure his son could grow up away from the negativity of the world. At that time, Tyler was worth an estimated $400 million, but he made it clear his son wouldn’t be handed any luxuries. Tyler said, “He’s going to have to work. He won’t be one of those kids sitting around with their hand out, driving fancy cars, and living rich. Mommy and Daddy have money. He doesn’t.”
Then, in an unexpected twist, a woman named Carla appeared on The Dr. Phil Show, claiming she was married to Tyler. Her daughters insisted a scammer posing as Tyler had conned their mother out of a significant amount of money. Despite Dr. Phil’s attempts to reason with her, Carla remained convinced she was Mrs. Tyler Perry.
Fast forward to April 2020, Tyler appeared on T.I.’s Expeditiously podcast. When T.I. asked why Tyler hadn’t gotten married yet, Tyler explained that he had a wonderful partner who was enjoying her share of his success. However, just eight months later, Tyler took to Instagram to post a gym selfie and announce he was single, leaving fans surprised and wondering what his next chapter would hold.
As they moved forward with their lives as co-parents, Tyler revealed to AARP magazine that he was delaying discussions about race with his six-year-old son. Tyler explained that his intention was to preserve his son’s innocence for as long as possible. “I don’t want to tell him that there are people who will judge him because of the color of his skin. Because right now, he’s in a school with every race, and all these kids are in their purest form,” Tyler shared.
In 2023, Tyler collaborated with Gelila on a documentary about his life, titled Maxine’s Baby: The Tyler Perry Story. In an interview with Today.com, Gelila expressed her honor in co-directing the project. Despite fans’ hopes for more insight into Tyler’s relationship with Gelila and their son, Gelila chose to keep her personal life out of the documentary. “I wanted to take myself out of it and just follow my curiosity and create a space for polarity where his critics and his fans can sort of share their truth,” Gelila explained. What exactly does she mean by that? Additionally, Tyler and Gelila decided against including any clips or photos of their son, aiming to allow him to grow up away from the public eye and enjoy his childhood.