Is Tyler Perry Gay? Does He Have a Partner or Girlfriend?

Tyler Perry is not gay. Though he is not one to publicize his personal life, he was previously in a relationship with Gelila Bekele, a beautiful model and activist. Their romance lasted for more than a decade, and they welcomed a son together.

Many thought that Perry and Bekele would get married, but that was not to be as they called it quits in 2020. Perry has since moved on with his life and continues to excel on all fronts. However, his single status means that he still has to contend with the occasional gay rumors.

So, Is Tyler Perry Gay?

Tyler Perry is not gay. The billionaire filmmaker and actor is straight and has been romantically linked with some female stars over the years. He was also in a long-term relationship with Gelila Bekele, a model and activist. Despite this, some people still speculate that Tyler Perry is gay, and this is because of his private lifestyle. Given how successful, wealthy, and good-looking Tyler Perry is, many people expect that he will have an active love life.

They expect him to frequently show up on the red carpet with a beautiful lady on his arm. They also believe that he should date and break up with several ladies. This has not been the reality, and many have concluded that Tyler Perry is gay. They have stated that his history of hiring fine muscular men for his movies is evidence of his sexuality.

A gossip columnist also blogged that Perry’s mannerism and aura scream gay in the early 2010s. Tyler Perry has denied all this, but the rumors have persisted. He has even been accused of influencing one of the actors in his productions, named Tyler Lepley, to become gay. Lepley played a gay character in one of Tyler Perry’s TV series, The Haves and the Have Nots.

He has since gone on to play other gay characters, and public opinion is that both Tyler Perry and Tyler Lepley are gay and that it was Perry that influenced Lepley. Lepley has, however, come out to deny this. In a 2020 podcast interview, Lepley stated that he was not gay. He also said categorically that Tyler Perry is not gay.

The Madea Star is a Big Supporter of LGBTQ Rights

Even though Tyler Perry is not gay, he nevertheless supports gay rights. The billionaire filmmaker believes that love is love no matter its shape. Therefore, he is an ally of the LGBTQ community and has supported LGBTQ rights over the years. For instance, in 2016, Perry was one of those that opposed a proposed anti-gay bill by the Georgia State Legislature.

The bill sought to make it legal for businesses and clergymen to discriminate against gay people, and Perry condemned it. In February 2022, Tyler Perry unveiled the first gay character in the multi-billion dollar Madea franchise that he headlines. The character, Tim, is Madea’s great-grandson and Perry got an openly gay actor named Brandon Black for the role.

It was a watershed moment for the franchise, and Perry revealed that having Madea be so open, loving, and kind is to send a clear message. He also expressed his hope that Madea’s acceptance of her gay great-grandson will influence other people to accept their family members that are gay.

Who Is Tyler Perry’s Partner?

Tyler Perry’s former partner is Gelila Bekele. Bekele is an Ethiopian model, activist, and documentary filmmaker. She has been represented by top-tier agencies such as Ford Models, Premium Models, and Elite Model Management. She has featured on the cover of several magazines and has worked for brands such as Pantene, L’Oréal, and Michael Kors.

Bekele is also an activist and documentary filmmaker who is committed to advocating for equal opportunities for young girls in her native Ethiopia and globally. She has directed several documentaries in this regard, some of which have premiered at the Cannes Film Festival.

Tyler Perry
Tyler Perry and Gelila Bekele (Image Source)

Tyler Perry and Gelila Bekele Dated For More Than a Decade, during Which They Had a Son Together

Perry and Gelila Bekele began dating in 2007 after meeting at a concert. The couple dated for several years, during which they kept a low profile. Their joint red carpet outings were few and far in between, which contributed to the speculations that Perry may be gay.

The couple refused to be daunted and continued with their romance out of the prying eyes of the public. They later welcomed a son named Aman Perry in 2014. Following the birth of their son, Aman Tyler Perry, Tyler Perry, and Gelila Bekele continued their romance.

As usual, they shielded their love, but Perry dropped occasional anecdotes about their son in interviews. These anecdotes show that they had an enviable family life, and Perry further confirmed this when he described Bekele as an amazing woman in a 2017 interview. He also stated that he couldn’t think of another person to have a child with.

Aman Tyler Perry

The Couple Split Up in 2020 after 13 Years Together

Given such glowing praises, many assumed that Tyler Perry and Gelila Bekele would go on to get married. However, this was not to be as they quietly went their separate ways in 2020 after 13 years. The erstwhile couple never announced their breakup publicly, but fans got a clue into what was going on after Perry revealed that he was stepping into 2021 as a single person.

His reps later confirmed that he and Bekele had broken up but were committed to amicably co-parenting their kid. Since that breakup, Perry has yet to start dating any other person. He is concentrated on his son, whom he describes as his greatest joy in the world.

The actor has revealed that his son is a curious person that loves asking questions. He has also revealed that even though he would love Aman to take over his empire, he would nevertheless support him in any career of his choice.

A Look Back at Tyler Perry’s Girlfriends List

Asides from Gelila Bekele, Tyler Perry has not been in any other confirmed relationship. He has, however, been rumored to have dated the likes of Tyra Banks and Tasha Smith.

Tyra Banks and Tyler Perry

Tyra Banks is an American superstar model and reality TV star. She and Tyler Perry sparked dating tumorous after going on a couple of dates in 2006. They, however, never confirmed or denied their romance.

Tasha Smith and Tyler Perry

Tyler Perry
Image Source

Tasha Smith is an American actress who has appeared in several movies. She has also featured in several Tyler Perry’s productions, including Why Did I Get Married. Smith and Perry are rumored to have dated, but this is false. Smith revealed in a 2014 interview that she thought that Perry was asexual and was therefore surprised that he even had a girlfriend and a child.

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