US entertainment mogul defends cutting off family financial support “Tough love, not welfare”

US media tycoon Tyler Perry revealed in an interview that he doesn't believe in financially supporting his family members and refuses to be used as "welfare."

The American billionaire who generated his wealth in the entertainment industry shared his "tough love" approach in regard to mixing finances and family during an appearance on the “Den of Kings” podcast on YouTube, Caliber.Az reports.

He portrayed his philosophy by telling a story of how he once fired his aunt from a job because she didn’t take it seriously. "She said she wanted a job. She would always call asking for money, I would send her the money,” Perry said. “I said, ‘Listen, I want to help you. I want to help you build this thing, not be a welfare to you. So, let me give you a job.”

During the interview, the creator of the popular “Madea” fictional character told the podcast hosts that he applies the same mentality to his 10-year-old son as well, sharing that he makes him fulfil chores if he was asking for certain things.

“I don’t believe in giving us things that are just going to handicap us,” he explained.

The media executive and actor shared another story, revealing that following the death of his mother in 2009, he sent letters to family members that she had asked him to financially support and informed them that he had given them a deadline of 60 days to get a job before he would cut them off.

By Nazrin Sadigova