To callTyler Perrya divisive figure would be an understatement. The audience that Perry has built for himself through his many television shows and films adores him. Critics and others find his body of work to be insufferable and a reinforcement of negative stereotypes pertaining to African Americans. Tyler Perry has once again found himself in the hot seat regarding his newNetflixseries,She the People.
This time, it’s not the negative critical reception that Perry faces, but legal action. Litigation regarding intellectual property is nothing new; what makes this case perplexing is that Perry is being sued by a nonprofit organization that shares the same name as his latest series.
What Is ‘She the People’ About?
She the Peopleis thenewest comedy series from Tyler Perry, and it sees the director tackling a subject that’s been prominent in public discourse — women of color in politics.The series follows Antoinette Dunkerson (Terri J. Vaughn), the first African-American woman to serve as lieutenant-governor of Mississippi. Besides the difficulties that come with any elected position in government, Dunkerson navigates her torrid relationships with her boss and family.
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As has been par for the course with many of the movies and series Tyler Perry has been involved with, the reception has been divisive.Some audience members have foundShe the Peopleto be entertaining and comical. Others have been quick to criticizeShe the Peopleas more of Perry’s negative depictions of women of color, and thriving on harmful and overused stereotypes.
The Legal Drama, Explained
Tyler Perry has certainly faced backlash before, but nothing like this.The legal issues being called into question regardingShe the Peoplerelate to a nonprofit organization of the same name. Established in 2018 by Aimee Allison, and according to their website, “She the People is a national organization building power for women of color to lead America to a new political era.” Allison has been a force of nature in politics, writing for multiple news outlets and helping to support Kamala Harris’ presidential runs in 2020 and 2024.
Allison’s lawsuit claims infringement on brand recognition and has beenfiled against Netflix, Tyler Perry, actress Terri J. Vaughn, and Tyler Perry’s production company, Tyler Vision, LLC. Allison claims that,apart from appropriating the name of her non-profit organization, many of the show’s themes are based on the work that She the People has been involved with for the past few years.
According to Law360.com, the litigation states: “The Series echoes many of the same themes regarding Black women’s experiences in politics that Ms. Allison addresses through her activism under the SHE THE PEOPLE mark, albeit in a slightly different format… With a lighthearted and comedic touch, the Series trailer (the “Trailer”) shows the newly-elected lieutenant governor confronting a number of issues likely to resonate with women of color.”
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Safeguarding intellectual property is a massive concern for many writers, directors, and artists. Legal action regarding plagiarism and misuse of intellectual property is commonplace, and this isn’t the first instance of Tyler Perry and the non-profit coming to odds regarding legality. It was reported that Tyler Perry and his production company, Tyler Vision, LLC, attempted to trademark the name She the People, but the claim was dismissed on the legal grounds of “likelihood of confusion.” The fact that there was a pre-existing legal action could affect the upcoming litigation.
Recently, Aimee Allison took to the social media platform Instagram to express her commitment to protecting her intellectual property and body of work:
“When I began She the People, I poured nearly a decade into giving life to that idea. Turning it into a platform that amplifies the leadership and power of Black and Brown women. That phrase — those words — carried weight. And they still do. But here’s the truth: there are always people watching.People who see the value in what you’ve built — and think they’re entitled to use it. To take the work, the sweat, the clarity of your vision — and profit from it. It’s a story as old as time. In my case, I secured trademarks early. And I’ve had to defend She the People more than once. Not just the legal rights, but the heart behind it.”
Is ‘She the People’ Streaming Anywhere?
Despite the impending lawsuit and divisive reaction to Tyler Perry’s new series,She the Peopleis currently streaming onNetflix.
