‘I Had to Smoke a Joint’: Tyler Perry Sends Fans Into Frenzy as Madea Takes on Beyoncé, Reveals How He Prepared for the Scene
Tyler Perry’s new film “A Madea Homecoming” just dropped, and he surprised fans during the credits with a Beyoncé-inspired performance of “Machella.”
But of course Perry had to take the skit to new levels by creating an entire re-enactment of Ms. Knowles-Carter’s 2018 Coachella performance done fully costumed as the character that is at the foundation of so much of his success, Madea.
Before the multi-hyphenate could include the remake of the Coachella excerpt into the film, he had to get permission from Netflix and Beyoncé. He told Entertainment Weekly, “Before anybody saw it, before Netflix saw it, I sent her a clip.”
He said he asked her, “Is this OK? If not, it will never see the light of day. You say yes or no.”
Luckily, both parties approved the performance, and fans were able to witness the cantankerous old lady in some tiny, big booty denim shorts and flowing blond wig, bumping and grinding like she was in a music video.
In an interview with Francesca Amiker from E! News, Perry shared that he wasn’t just nervous about approval, but needed something to take the edge off the anxiety he had when making “Machella.”
He said, “I don’t get high when I work. But to do that scene,” he confessed. “I had to smoke a joint.”
“That was the only way I was going to be able to pull it off,” he continued.
But before she started singing “Drunk in Love” on an elevated crane, just like the Grammy winner did in her “Homecoming” special on Netflix, Madea started the HBCU-nodding performance with the Negro national anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” The mogul managed to personify Beyoncé’s essence while staying in character the entire time and articulating the song through Madea’s voice.
By the time Madea opened her mouth to sing, “I’ve been drinking, I’ve been drinking,” Perry had interpolated classic scenes from “Homecoming,” including black and white b-roll where Queen Bey was coordinating the rehearsal time with another showrunner. However, Madea gets distracted by the dancer that walks past her and checks her real quick.
Reactions about the skit are just as hilarious as the skit itself. Social media wanted to know “when did Madea get so thick,” posting comments like “Madea got a bbl” and “who body det is?”
Some just saluted the comedic genius of the billionaire movie maker.
ItsSaturdaySami wrote, “Who going to #Machella tyler perry you funny man.”
“#MadeaHomecoming best part of this movie. #Coachella or should I say #Machella ,” TylerSydSA informed those interested in catching the flick.
And if you thought that Perry was just gonna leave you a Bey-terrific diva-licious performance (Machella was complete with dancers, a full marching band, wind machines, and, yes, twerking), he had Madea swag surfing before ending with a winded version of Cardi B’s 2021 hit “Up.”
Fans thought it was funny, but what did the “Survivor” singer say when she first saw it?
According to Perry, Beyoncé also thought it was a riot. Perry said that when he shared it with her to get approval, she not only laughed, but she also laughed “hard.”
“A Madea’s Homecoming” is streaming on Netflix now.
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