A close friend of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s, Tyler Perry, has reportedly landed a lucrative new deal to take over cable channel BET. Reports suggest the 53-year-old actor and filmmaker has secured a deal to give him control of BET Media Group, which US outlets claim comes as its current owner, Paramount, is losing money.
Further details of the deal, including its value, are yet to be disclosed. The channel, an acronym for Black Entertainment Television, has been criticised in the past for perpetuating negative stereotypes about black Americans, with rapper Diddy recently calling for it to become “black-owned again” as he joined the list of potential buyers.
Tyler, who has starred in hit shows such as Sistas and Diary of a Mad Black Woman, and films such as Don’t Look Up in 2021, Gone Girl in 2014, and the 2009 Star Trek remake, is one of the closest friends to Meghan Markle and Prince Harry.
It was said he gave the Duke and Duchess of Sussex his house and personal security during the coronavirus pandemic after they were left with nowhere to go following their exit from Canada.
He is also thought to be the godfather of their daughter Lilibet, two.
Tyler said of his actions at the time that he simply wanted to help the couple during what was a “very difficult time for them”, adding he wanted to ‘support them” in any way possible.
Appearing in the couple’s Netflix documentary, he applauded them for their exit from the royal family, adding: “They just wanted to be free.”
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