Tyler Perry, Oprah Winfrey Share How to Mix Business and Friendship
(Photo: Essence Magazine, June 2013)
The friendship between Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry is still going strong as the two grace the cover of Essence's June issue. Inside, the OWN honcho and actor-director-producer talk about inspiring each other both as friends and business partners.
"We both know how rare this is. Where else in the history of our African-American culture have two really, really successful people who can do whatever they want said, 'Let's come together and be even more powerful — let's take it to the tenth power?'" Oprah says.
Winfrey was granted exclusive rights to broadcast all of Perry's original shows on her Oprah Winfrey Network. He's also penned a few new OWN shows like The Haves and the Have Nots and Love Thy Neighbor, both of which premiere at the end of May.
"…The most important thing about coming together was making sure we would not lose our friendship because of the business," Perry says. "We had to establish ground rules. The main one: Both of us have to continue to live in our truth. If she doesn't like something, say it. If I don't like something, I'll say it. And we'll figure it out and keep moving on…"
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