Diana Ross Does Not Want Tyler Perry Reaching Out and Touching Her, Singer Refuses To Answer His Calls

June 27th, 2012 - By Brande Victorian

Source: Eurweb.com

Tyler Perry has made a lot of dreams come true but one he can’t seem to make happen is his childhood wish of working with the legendary Diana Ross. That’s because the Motown singer wants nothing to do with him.

In an interview with Essence.com, Tyler said:

“She’s been ignoring me for years. She’s the only person that I have dreamed of working with that will not return my phone calls.”

The rags-to-riches director did say she spoke to him once, but “That was it, she never called me again. She said, ‘No!’ And that was it.”

Diana is hardcore.

Essence asked whether flexing his superstar inner circle muscle and being friends with Oprah helps his case at all. His answer? Not so much.

“Not when it comes to Diana Ross,” he joked. “You can be friends with Obama, Oprah, Trump — that is Diana Ross! So, no.”

I don’t really see what kind of part TP could carve out for the legendary “Boss” and perhaps she doesn’t either which is why she doesn’t want to be bothered. I’m sure we could come up with a million speculative reasons as to why she’s turning him down but the bottom line is she doesn’t appear to be anywhere close to changing her mind.

Would you want to see these two work together?

Brande Victorian is the news and operations editor for madamenoire.com. Follow her on twitter @Be_Vic.

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  • FromUR2UB

    Next! I don’t want to see her overacting self, anyway.

  • moe24p

    dont blame her

  • applesauce585

    Maybe Diana Ross don’t want to be bothered…doesn’t she have that right?…gheez…..

  • The Boss’ Son

    It’s a lie Diana Ross was originally cast for the lead role with Ryan Oneal.. in the late 1970′s. Ms Ross turned the role down for a number of personal reasons!

  • Annette

    Some of y’all are saying Ms. Ross is too good for Tyler, but Tyler has worked with Phylicia Rashad, Cicely Tyson, Whoopi Goldberg, Thandie Newton, Angela Bassett, and all the top black actresses. He even worked with Ms. Ross’s daughter, Tracey Ellis.

    I’m not going to say Ms. Ross can’t have her opinion, though. She’s certainly at a place where she can do whatever she wants to do…

    • La Shante’

      People, Diana Ross is NOT an actress she is a singer/performer, although she has acted before. Ross is an ICON compared to the ladies you named…NO COMPARISON! It does’nt matter who he has worked with. Whatever her reason, SHE WON’T WORK WITH HIM. END OF STORY. smh………NEXT TOPIC!

  • Really?

    God forbid u turn down Tyler Perry! Pleeeease! Isn’t it obvious, Diana and Tyler are in two separate categories, “classy” and “mediocre”

  • Chassie

    Kudos to Diana Ross. If she doesn’t want to do the movie, she doesn’t want to do it. It doesn’t make her a diva, and it doesn’t make her haughty, it just shows preference and taste. Kudos to Tyler for his success, but honestly, I haven’t been impressed by anything he’s crafted since Diary of a Mad Black Woman the movie and the Class Reunion Play. Lately, I feel like Tyler is just spitting effort-less dribble, assuming that he has the black audience on lockdown. No, Tyler, no. And if you need an example, try to force yourself to watch all of Aunt Bam’s Place. Worst.Purchase.Ever. On another note, was there a reason for all this complaining? Is he trying to shame her into a role? I get that it was an interview, but let some things just marinate in your mind, Tyler.

    • Papillon

      ” I get that it was an interview, but let some things just marinate in your mind, Tyler.”

      Remember this was the same man who let it “slip” that he almost got someone pregnant. Um…yeah.

  • Candacey Doris

    All of a sudden i feel the urge to listen to my R albums. Good for her in saying no to that hack.

  • http://www.newyorkcitysinglemom.com/ NYCSingleMom

    First of all, if he really wanted to work with her, he wouldn’t have outed her in the press plus, like other screenwriters, they write the role for their “first” choice then pitch them. He did actually have ideas to pitch her on a role for this movies. Frankly, I can’t see her in any of his movies.

  • Nisee

    I like Diana Ross but there are so many other talented celebrities that would jump at the chance to be in one of TP’s movies. Don’t let you ego get in the way…you tried… now keep it movin! #ontothenext!

  • sammi_lu

    Diana has turned down several roles for not wanting to be typecast..I recall in an interview she turned down the Josephine Baker story and “The Bodyguard”, which I’m grateful she did..I love her but Whitney Houston cast as Rachel was soo necessary, well not so much her acting but she was born to sing all those hits that came off that album!! If I’m not mistaken it is still the best selling soundtrack of all time.

  • shame on you

    ” give it up Tyler Perry your the wrong color ”IF YOU WERE WHITE” this would not be like this but then agin…she just might be…not like you…but i do…find some one else there more ”BLACK FAMOUS” actresses that you can give her life back…

  • TallGyal7

    People that don’t support Tyler Perry because they think that he perpetuates stereotypes must sit at home all day staring at the wall. Almost every form of entertainment today (music, movies, reality tv, cooking shows, etc.) is full of people perpetuating stereotypes. God continues to bless Tyler Perry because he is a blessing to other in many ways. I personally don’t want to see Diana Ross acting in anything. Tyler has worked with a lot of great actors in the past, and he will work with many more in the future. Halleluyerrrrrr!!!!!

    • dontdoit

      So you are justifying TP’s use of stereotyping by saying everybody does it???? We have to aim higher and I do not accept inferior work in anything, nor should I feel bad about it.

  • Kells

    Thats her choice.. I am sure she has good reasonings..

  • sabrina

    I honestly don’t blame her. Really and truly, she’s too good for any of his work. C’mon, he got Kim Kardashian to take part in his project; that says a lot in itself. I wouldn’t even want to see Diana Ross in any of his works. She’s too legendary for that. Tyler has a lot of perfecting of his craft to do in order to even have a chance with her.

  • http://twitter.com/VictoriaGrooves Victoria grooves

    I was just wondering why trace Ellis Ross has never done 1 of his films lol

    • awet

      She was in Daddy’s Little Girls.

      • http://twitter.com/VictoriaGrooves Victoria grooves

        Oh she sure was 1 of her friends

  • dimpz

    I just found new respect for Diana Ross, this Lady is just a class act!!

    • Hey

      Really?! How is refusing to talk to him a class act? A class act would actually be granting him an audience, air her grievance if any and make suggestions on how to move the black culture forward through healthy TV shows. If she has this much profound effect on him, maybe she could instigate a change. Left to me, she is just being a DIVA! Nothing classy about that act, even childish!

      • Papillon

        No, what’s childish is trying to publicly shame someone by telling a national magazine that someone doesn’t like you. Really, what was he trying to accomplish by revealing that?

      • http://twitter.com/psquaredLA prettypractical

        I don’t think she literally refuses to speak to him. She probably just doesn’t give him the time of day with respect to his requests for her to appear in one of his projects, which is her choice. If she does indeed refuse to speak to him, you’re right, that makes her kinda ridiculous.

      • Hey

        We are the same community that keeps complaining that there are no positive black representation on TV. Having her work with him, i still maintain can be of a positive influence. Pardon my ignorance on history where Ms. Ross is concerned, but what has she put out of late to influence the current and upcoming generation? If she is such an icon in the black community, surely her works should still be relevant.

        • Na Na

          Even if someone believes that TV is in the toilet that doesn’t make them a diva or an itch bay because they don’t want to work with a person. Its her prerogative.

      • La Shante’

        Let’s get something straight, Diana Ross has nothing to prove to anyone. Her LEGEND was made many years ago. She might not want to do ANYTHING with ANYBODY it’s her choice…undertstand, HER choice. I read where Tyler said she talked to him once and she said NO. Why would she need an explaination? NO means NO. AND, why hate on Diana. She has made her way, and she did it HER way. She DOES’NT NEED the adoration or the MONEY. I also read in this blog that she might somehow create some type of bridge in our community if she were to appear in something more current.. SHE nor Mr. Perry have the ability to do this GREAT task. OUR problems have lived LOONG before and I must say will continue FAR beyond their lives. ijs

      • The Boss’ Son

        childish!Left to you?…well good it’s not left to you and yes she is a class act in every way.. air a grievance??? what grievance? YOU MADE THAT UP. She said “No” why is that a grievance? You don’t know Ms Ross, She said before, she didn’t think she would ever do anymore movies. I would love to see her work with Tyler Perry but I’m not doing the movie so that’s not my call and it’s damn sure is not yours …fyi trying to start rumors on a celebrity because you are not one and don’t know her now that … that is childish!

  • dontdoit

    No! Legends should not work with the less talented (or talentless) that feed off of stereotypes! Don’t blame her!

    • Sassy

      Tyler Perry is talent-less?! Pray, do share the type of negative stereotypes he displayed that has given the whole black community a bad name. A comical portrayal of a black ‘feisty’ grandma does not portray anyone or the whole community. Most of his movies and plays are meant to be comical, with one or two moral/religious lessons. Take what you can and leave the rest. Angry rants like yours is what further aid the labeling of black stereotypes.

      • dontdoit

        If you don’t see the stereotypes then there is no point in continued discussion.

        Plus, his movies are just plain BAD!

        • sandy

          We should support our black men. I may not like all his movies but he certainly has provided many struggling actors/ actresses with employment and he is a very nice man. If he is passionate or look up to her what is wrong speaking about it.

          • Guest

            Because they support us so much?

        • Sassy

          This is from the same dude that produced Daddy’s Little Girls and For Colored Girls, please do tell how these are stereotypical of the black community, i felt they were targeted into uplifting the important roles of women in the community – Did you miss that part? Madea’s episodes are meant to be comical, so lighten up. Even Mr. Brown and the likes are for laughs. Jeez! So focusing on a few and look at the whole output.

        • onelove80

          I agree and let Diana Ross be affiliated with who she wants to. I think the MAJOR issue with Tyler Perry is the lack of diversity in black mainstream media. That’s not his fault, but all his movies have the same characters and perpetuate the same stereotypes consistently. just hope that eventually there are more than just his films that represent us as the diverse individuals we are. In addition, I hope that future characters in black films do not relate only to black people. All of us cannot relate to the characters and situations in his films. Yes, it’s entertainment and there is a place for his films. However, another purpose of the media is to get the audience to think, not just about the redundant messages that are rampant throughout his films. I dare those of you that believe that TP movies are the BEST that there
          is to offer in black cinema and television to watch “Medicine for
          Melancholy.”

      • Amija James

        I’m with you @Sassy People don’t act like one white actor or producer reps the whole race, so why do we? I might not like all of his stuff, but I do love the lessons of family and black unity he puts in all of his films. Say whatever you want to about him, you must give respect where respect is due.

      • The Boss’ Son

        ….and self hating rants like yours is what further aid the labeling of black division

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