Tyler Perry has made a career out of telling complicated marriage stories — but when it comes to his own love life, he says he has no plans to walk down the aisle.
The filmmaker recently addressed marriage while promoting his latest film, Why Did I Get Married Again?, the Netflix sequel that revisits relationships, commitment and the complications that can come with marriage.
During an appearance on The Jennifer Hudson Show, Perry, 57, was asked whether he would ever get married.
His answer was immediate: “Nope.”
Perry then explained that marriage itself is not what concerns him. Instead, he said it is what can happen when a marriage ends in divorce that makes him hesitant.
“It’s not the marriage that bothers me, it’s the divorce,” Perry said.
The filmmaker pointed to people he knows who were financially successful but later experienced major losses following divorce.
“Everybody that I know, that did well, and went broke, it was because of a divorce,” he said.
For Perry, that has made his current situation feel comfortable.
“So, I’m good just being free,” he added.
His comments come at an interesting time, considering the subject matter of his latest film. Why Did I Get Married Again? continues the franchise Perry began with 2007’s Why Did I Get Married? and its 2010 sequel, Why Did I Get Married Too?
The latest installment brings back several original cast members while introducing a new generation of characters. The story centers on the wedding of Marcus and Angela’s daughter, with the celebration bringing familiar couples back together and creating fresh relationship complications.
Perry stars alongside Taraji P. Henson, Janet Jackson, Jill Scott and other returning cast members.
While Perry has spent years putting marriage and romance at the center of his movies, his own personal life has taken a different path.
He has never been married. He previously had a long-term relationship with model and filmmaker Gelila Bekele, with whom he shares a son, Aman. The couple ended their romantic relationship in 2020 and have continued to co-parent.
Perry has also spoken about wanting to give Aman a grounded childhood despite his enormous success and wealth.
Now, he says another major life change is ahead. Perry recently revealed plans to move to Puerto Rico with Aman in early 2027, saying he wants to slow down professionally and spend more time with his son.
“Getting older [inspired this],” Perry said during an interview with Today with Jenna & Sheinelle. “It’s time to slow down a bit, enjoy more time with my son and just take it all in.”
For now, at least, marriage does not appear to be part of that plan. Perry may continue making movies about complicated marriages, but off screen, he says he is perfectly comfortable remaining independent.
