Tyler Perry recently admitted that he became heavily dependent on alcohol when his mother died four months ago. Interestingly, the Atlanta filmmaker said it was President Obama who helped him kick the habit.
In a recent sit down with Essence, the “Madea’s Witness Protection” director spoke candidly about how he used alcohol to help him sleep and cope with his mother’s death, but a visit from President Obama helped him face up to his problem.
“I’m doing a lot better now since I stopped drinking about four months ago when my mother died,” Tyler told the magazine.
“When she got sick in 2009 I started drinking every night because I couldn’t sleep — every night up to a couple of months ago. I never had a problem but I certainly was on my way to having one.”
“I’d have me a nice big glass of Hennessy and I would sleep through the night. It was President Obama’s visit to my studio, I don’t know what happened there, but when he came everything became clear.”
“I just kind of came out of a haze. It was like, ‘Wake up, kid. You know life is still going on. I know you miss her, I know you care but wake up. Life is still going on.’”
“I swear the day after he left was the day I just said I am going to sleep without it.”
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