Tyler Perry broke down and was forced to control himself twice while discussing his late mother Maxine and her life of “pain” on The View, leaving host Sara Haines in tears.
The 54-year-old got choked up after Sara, 46, praised his new documentary, Maxine’s Baby: The Tyler Perry Story, telling him it made her feel like she had met his mother, who died in 2009 at the age of 64.
‘I’m going to watch this movie every time I need my own strength, because I wanted to run laps! It was so well done,” she said.
“When I met Maxine through all of this, I didn’t know her, but it shows how much you went through as a child….”
Her words clearly struck a chord with Tyler, who took a deep breath before his voice began to break, “Okay, wait a minute, that one cost me.
“Wow, how did it hit me so hard? Have you met my mother? You met my mom through that man, wow, thank you, oh my god.”
Joy Behar, 81, who was there to comfort him, said: “It still affects you, these things don’t go away that quickly.”
Actor Tyler Perry burst into tears during an appearance on The View on Tuesday
Sara Haines made Tyler emotional when she said she felt like she ‘met’ his mother Maxine after watching his new documentary
Tyler, pictured here with his mother Maxine in 2006, described her as a woman ‘who lived her whole life in so much pain’
“To say that’s how you met her, that takes me somewhere, because she… this woman went through so much pain and she didn’t have an inheritance, but she had me and to say that I was able to introduce her to you introduce “You got me there,” Tyler said. “I’m sorry, Lord, have mercy. I appreciate that.’
With tears in her own eyes, Sara, the mother of three, responded, “Thank you for sharing her with all of us as well, as her legacy remains very strong in you and your son.”
The TV star then tried to discuss Tyler’s “violent childhood,” but he was still blown away by her kind words, adding, “I’m sorry, guys.” I’m sorry. You met my mother through the doctor… you really got me there, I’m sorry, I have to get myself together!’
Sara reassured him: ‘If you want to stay with that, you can. I understand.’
Tyler went on to describe the hardships his mother has endured while praising her ability to strive for the happiness of her loved ones.
“I imagine a woman who lived her whole life in so much pain and always worried about everything else,” he said. “I watched her get sick, I watched her get cancer, I watched her have all these things, because her intention was, ‘Are you happy? Are you okay?’
“She never put herself on the list and she never thought she was important, and she never thought anyone would care. So to say that this documentary about my life introduces her to the world, it moves me because she was very special to me.”
Alyssa Farah Griffin, 34, asked Tyler about his relationship with his estranged father.
“You see the pain he caused your family and I can’t imagine how challenging that was for you, but despite everything you’ve been through, you still care for him and make sure he’s taken care of.” she said. “How can you do that and why was that important to you?”
The 54-year-old struggled to get the words out during his interview as he fought back tears
The View’s Sunny Hostin comforted Tyler as he tried to explain why he was so upset
Tyler revealed that his mother Maxine ‘never thought she was important’ and was ‘always worried about everything else’
Tyler responded, “I’ve given up hope that he would ever do anything good or have any kind of kindness or love in his heart. I gave that up because he is who he is and so you have to get to a point where you accept people for who they are.
‘I accepted him for who he is and he had a lot of pain in his own life and he didn’t know how to convey it. He was taken to a 14-year-old to raise and she beat him up, so that’s what he did to his children.”
He said he was determined to ‘break the cycle’ with his own son, Aman, whom he welcomed in 2014 with Gelila Bekele, and said he is not ‘angry’ at his father because his ‘heinous’ actions made him ‘) a better man and a better person.”
Whoopi Goldberg, 67, said, “That’s the great thing about mothers, because our mothers do everything they can to make sure we don’t have to follow their path.
“But they also leave that spark in us, that’s why you can pass on the spark, and that’s why people can see who she was through you, because that’s what she left in you, it’s amazing. If we are lucky, we are blessed with our mothers.”
Tyler handed over creative control to Gelila and Armani Ortiz for the documentary, which was shot over a period of ten years. It charts the early years of multi-hyphenate New Orleans – marked by poverty and his abusive father – and rise to billionaire media mogul.
Viewers were also struck by the emotional interview, with some claiming they too were reduced to tears.
“Tyler Perry mannnn you made me cry #TheView so touching.”
Another commented: ‘Not Tyler Perry crying on The View, now I need a tissue whewww!’
A third added: ‘Didn’t expect to turn on #TheView for a minute and turn into a puddle of tears. Tyler Perry is that guy.”
Moderator Whoopi Goldberg made a touching comment about mothers and also praised Tyler for “seeing” her
Sara posted a sweet photo of herself hugging Tyler and thanked him for ‘boundless work’
Sara later posted a photo of herself hugging Tyler on Instagram, writing, “To the light we all see, but more importantly feel: Tyler Perry. Thank you for reminding us (again) of the power of resilience, forgiveness, grace and love.
‘Your work is limitless, but your humanity goes to the heart of life’s journey. Thank you.’
‘What a moment. I’m still crying a little bit,” said one fan. ‘That moment from today’s show! It made me gasp and shed tears.”
Another told her: ‘I’ve been watching THE VIEW every day since day one, but I’ve never been as moved as I am today! Sarah, you are such a gift.”