Tyler Perry said he can not “just and leave” filming in Georgia, despite Hollywood’s reaction against the state’s “heartbeat” abortion law.
The actor-director-screenwriter made the remarks at The Associated Press on Friday while discussing the upcoming opening of his huge Atlanta-based studio. Some celebrities have asked TELEVISION and cinema companies to give up the state after Republican Gov. Brian Kemp signed restrictive abortion law in May.
But Perry, whose strike includes the “Madea” franchise and the “Why Am I Married” movies, said he’s committed to staying put.
“Atlanta was the dream. He was the promised land, “he says. “When I arrived here, this whole state and city was amazing to me and I would not trade anything. Also, I put $ 250 million in the ground here and in the studio. So when you have a quarter of a billion dollars sitting in the ground, you can not just get up and leave. “
Perry is planning for one of the stars of the inauguration of his new studio complex next weekend.
The law prohibits abortion after a fetal heartbeat is detected, which can happen earlier than six weeks before pregnancy, many women realize they are waiting. The right is established to become enforceable January 1.
Some actors and actresses like Alyssa Milano, Mark Hamill and Mandy Moore have suggested a boycott against filming in Georgia. Others, like Jordan Peele and JJ Abrams are getting ready to shoot their HBO show “Lovecraft County,” but say they will donate all of their “episodic fees” to law enforcement organizations, including the Georgia ACLU and the Just Fight Georgia.
Perry was not vocal from his point of view on the law, but the filmmaker later told AP that he is against the law.
“I do not think the man should be able to tell a woman what she can do with her body, her reproductive organs,” he says.
Perry said the workers who helped Georgia’s booming television and movie industry could have an impact in 2022 election governor.
“What I know about this industry is that there are 94,000-plus or 98,000 people in this industry who are benefiting greatly,” he says. “And it’s a lot of votes. I am in a wait and see good time now. But it’s a lot of votes. It’s a lot of voices that can determine an election. “