Photo Credit:Shanique Yates
In a heartfelt reflection, Tyler Perry recently shared a poignant story from his past. Perry, who is now celebrated for his success in the entertainment industry, opened up about a time when he faced eviction from his first apartment after being homeless. This experience, which he now views as a “blessing,” played a crucial role in shaping his journey to success.
Perry took to Instagram to recount his visit to the building that housed his first apartment. He revealed that he had visited the building a decade ago, upon hearing that it was slated for demolition. Although the building still stands today, the memories it holds for Perry are profound. “I was so happy to have the apartment but simultaneously felt anxious and scared that I wasn’t going to be able to pay the $425 rent every month,” Perry wrote.
The struggle to make ends meet was a constant source of stress for Perry during that period. He recalled how he would freeze and pray whenever the landlord knocked on his door to collect rent. “I was late on the rent every month. Man, this makes me tear up,” he admitted.
A turning point came when Perry finally earned enough money from one of his plays to pay his overdue rent. He was overjoyed to be able to settle his debts, but his relief was short-lived. Upon returning from a weekend away, he found an eviction notice on his door. “This is after I paid him. I was so mad. He said I had been late too many times and I had been there too long and it was time for me to go,” Perry recounted.
At the time, Perry was devastated by the eviction, feeling as though he was being forced out of the one place where he had found some semblance of comfort. However, he now sees the eviction as a pivotal moment in his life. “8 in biblical terms means a new beginning,” Perry noted, reflecting on the significance of his apartment number. "I now know that I was at my new beginning. I now know that if he had let me stay there I would have never left, because I had gotten comfortable"
He explained that being stagnant can kill dreams, much like stagnant water. “I now know that you don’t get to the other side by staying comfortable,” he wrote. "I now know, and I thank God that that man put me out of that place"
