Tyler Perry Candidly Discusses Past Physical, Sexual Abuse
Oct. 6 2009, Published 2:51 p.m. ET
Talented director Tyler Perry reveals he was abused as a child in a statement published on his Web site Tuesday.
Perry, 40, said he recalled the horrific details of his childhood after watching Precious, a film he co-produced with Oprah Winfrey that documents a teen girl's struggles along the same lines.
"A large part of my childhood had just played out before my eyes; it hit me so hard, I sat there in tears realizing that somehow, by the grace of God, I made it through," the Why Did I Get Married? director wrote. "My tears were tears of joy, being thankful that I made it."
Perry claimed his father would typically come home in a drunken rage and literally beat him until the skin was coming off his back.
He also suffered sexual abuse, having been molested at the mother of a friend at 10, as well as man he knew from church; he wrote that his father was also a pedophile, having molested one of his friends.
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The brave director said he is at peace with his past issues.
"Think about it, as a child we have no recourse," he wrote. "We have nowhere to go. We have to endure it. But as adults, we have choices. I choose to forgive with all my might. Forgiveness has been my weapon of choice. It has helped to free me."
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