Essence Atkins Says Tyler Perry’s Experiment With Kim Kardashian Didn’t Work
Movie mogul Tyler Perry is no stranger to criticism. With his popular Madea movies, hit TV shows and other business moves, he continues to build an empire. Despite public gripes from his peers, (both directors and actors) fans and naysayers, Perry continues to pack movie theaters nation wide and score big on both the big screen and television. Recently, he joined forces with friend Oprah Winfrey and a multi-million deal bringing his audience and success to her network.
His most recent project “Temptation” has received mixed reviews for its message on morality and the dangers of adultery. While some people have been speaking out on (what they call) Tyler’s “typical” depiction of love and other matters, others have begun to find fault with the director’s casting choices.
Actress Essence Atkins, known for her roles on such shows as “Half & Half” and “Smart Guy” and movies like “How High” and “A Haunted House,” recently talked with S2S Magazine and gave her opinion on Kim Kardashian’s portrayal of a fashion-crazed match maker in Perry’s latest work. Specifically, Atkins spoke on what she thought about directors hiring socialites or personalities instead of actual actors in hopes of increasing the films popularity. Check out what she had to say below:
I found it interesting that Tyler did that with Temptation, hiring Kim Kardashian because she has 16 million Twitter followers, which would seem like a brilliant marketing plan. He has one of the biggest Twitter personalities out there in his movies, and he had one of the worst box office weekends. It’s not a failure, but it did worse than his movies usually do just based on him. I thought that was an interesting finding. Your experiment didn’t work. People want to see good stories. It’s not necessarily that they want to see Kim Kardashian in a movie. They want to see her in a bikini. They want to see her with Kanye [West]. They want to see her on her show talking about her life with her sisters, but that doesn’t mean that they want to see her in a movie. The fact that people want to see their lives and the volatility of that…. I don’t think that it translates at all.”
Interesting.
Perry’s newest scripted shows air on the OWN network in May.
What do you think–did Tyler Perry’s ‘Temptation’ flop in theaters, because of Kim Kardashian’s involvement? Or were other factors to blame?
[IW]
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I think its a slap in the face to a real actor when that’s their craft. I don’t think she’s 100% to blame but I think her role in the movie may have played some part in the flop just because she’s not a real actor. I think overall people are just tired of the same ole story lines from Tyler Perry’s movies.
@ Joy…I totally agree! Getting her to boost your rating was not a good idea because it was not a reality show it was a movie.
I don’t think Kim is “that important” to say that the movie so called flopped, because of her being in it. I do agree that it must feel like a slap in the face to all of the real actresses out there. I can see where Tyler thought she might be perfect for the role though because of the proclaimed “fashionista” persona. She was just ok, I’m sure another bonified actress would’ve been much better.
Why is it that black people always look for someone to play the blame game? Did Kim K. really make Temptations supposedly flop in box office? Tyler Perry is an individual like to give individual chances, and that is exactly what he did with Kim K. Essence Atkins may be an actress who has been around a long time. But I have never seen her in a starring role. I have never read anything where she is described as being acclaimed. Is she an actress who can draw crowd to the movie theater? Every report states that this movie wasn’t even a flop at the box office. The only other movie of Tyler Perry’s that did better was Why Did I Get Married Too? I think we are to work at not being so judgmental, but instead work at being more accepting. Look at what we bring to the table.
You have a good point. The only reason why I say Kim may have played some part in the low ratings is because I’ve heard so many people say they hate her and didn’t go see the movie because she was in it….which is unfortunate because overall it was pretty good movie
Joy – In all honesty, I am not a fan of Kim K. I don’t have cable, but I read a lot. However, think about all those people who you have heard that said that they will not go and see the movie and their character. They are the first to get the ‘boot-leg’ version. I have always pride myself to look at a situation from all different angle.
On another note, many of the people who considered themselves “real actors” have not gone to any institution to really learn the craft. Many have followed a dream and it came through, to which I am not knocking at all. However, think about all the individuals who have gone to University or some premier institution to cultivate themselves into real actors. I am talking about the Denzel Washington (Fordham University), Angela Bassett (Yale University), and Gillian Anderson (DePaul) just to name a few. These individuals never call themselves ‘real actors’. Instead they flourish at doing a job they love, they teach others who are interested and not blast another when thing aren’t to their liking. Halle Berry is acclaimed actress, winning Golden Globes, Emmys, Academy Award and Screen Actors Guild Awards. She has had many flops in the box office, but understands that at the end of the day, she can do her best, but it is up the audience and their interest. Therefore, I think Essence needs my want to really understand the industry in which she works; it isn’t all about the actors, movies executives, directors and producers. Think about whom they are catering to the AUDIENCES – they do not always want to see a good movie.
I stopped reading after… Actress Essence Atkins, known for her roles on such shows as “Half & Half” and “Smart Guy” and movies like “How High” and “A Haunted House.”
She needs more credible on screen work before I start to take her opinion seriously. I’m not certain what she does off or behind the camera, but Kim’s acting in Temptation was better than all of Essence Atkins acting I’ve seen thus far.
ouch.
I completely agree! Who’s to blame when “Are We There Yet?” the TV series flopped?? There was no Kim K in sight! Have a seat and try again Essence!
Why are females always trying to tear eachother down..geeshhh!! Kim K. is not an actress ..FACT. But she did an awesome job in temptation..(no im not a fan of hers) Essence Atkins is a great actress and did well in all her roles…make a movie together girls..UNITY!! Women should learn to uplift each other and stop being so mean and nasty. Its hard enough in HOLLYWOOD or any INDUSTRY for WOMEN and still yall love to tear eathother down thinking it will bring u a lil closer to the top. . SAD!!
Omg lol. Everyone is going “in” right now so it doesn’t even make sense to respond to any particular person, but I don’t understand why people cannot respect other people’s opinions! And when I say this, I really mean other celebrities.
Everytime celeb criticizes another celebs work, they’re “hating” or “tearing” that person down. Why can’t they genuinely and openly voice their opinion?? For example:
-Keisha Cole goin’ “in” on Michelle @Superbowl: Meanwhile, on every social network running, EVERYONE else was! But when Keisha Cole does it, it’s a problem.
-Keisha Cole on Beyoncé: Meanwhile, there CLEARLY is a disconnect between the Beyoncé that we’ve known the past 15 yrs versus the Beyoncé we’re seeing now. NEVER has she referred to other women as “bitches”
-And now Essence
I mean, why does she have to be tearing Kim K. down or “looking for someone to play the blame game”? Regardless of her success in her career, she still buys music, dvds, goes to the movies, restaurants, clothes; she’s still a consumer. She has just as much a right to give her point of view as anyone else. The point she was making was simple: Putting someone in your movie with no acting experience, for the soul purpose of them being a socialite, is not going to save your movie. A lukewarm movie, is a lukewarm movie. Period.
yeah but the movie flopped…