Tyler Perry was doing good for the Turpin family behind closed doors, according to Oprah Winfrey.
During the Paley Honors Fall Gala at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif., on Wednesday, Dec. 4, Winfrey, 70, spoke about Perry’s charity work while being honored with the Paley Honors Award for his significant achievements in media.
“Remember the Turpin children?” Winfrey asked the audience. “Diane Sawyer did a special about these children who were tortured and abused by their parents and locked in their home, and you remember, one daughter escaped through a window and ran and told a neighbor?”
“Tyler saw that specialness and reached out, and until this moment no one knew that Tyler Perry was taking care of these now almost grown children, making sure they had the financial, psychological and emotional support to grow forward on their own,” she continued.
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Tyler Perry at the Paley Center for Media Fall Gala in December 2024.
Leon Bennett/FilmMagic
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In early 2018, Jordan Turpin — who was 17 at the time — fled her family’s home in California and called 911 to report years of abuse her parents, David and Louise Turpin, had inflicted on their 13 children.
Jordan and her siblings were regularly physically, verbally and psychologically abused by their parents, who allegedly tied their children to beds and deprived them of food and exercise.
The Turpin Family. David-Louis Turpin/Facebook
David and Louise were eventually convicted of 14 felonies and sentenced to 25 years to life in prison. The Turpin siblings, who ranged in age from 2 to 29 at the time of their rescue — have since created new lives for themselves and have a strong bond with each other.
Tyler Perry and Oprah in December 2023.
Gilbert Flores/Variety/Getty
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Winfrey went on to talk about Perry’s philanthropy, saying, “He’s a quiet good Samaritan. He’s a fixer. He’s a healer.”
“Most of his charities are never seen or heard about. Most people watch the news and think, ‘Oh, what a shame.’ [but] Tyler looks and says, “What can I do to change something?” ” she added.
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Winfrey then recalled the case when Perry (55) was by her side in a moment of need: “One time I was going through a crisis and Tyler flew from Georgia to California, knocked on my door and surprised me.”
“I opened the door and he said, ‘I had to see your face. You’re going to be fine,’ and he turned around and went home,” she continued. “I’ll never forget that. I’ll take that moment to my grave because Tyler is a miracle.”
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Source: HIS Education