Grassroots protestors have been trying to initiate a ban on all things Kim Kardashian following her lavish wedding but blink-and-you-missed marriage to NBA player Kris Humphries. And while the movement hasn’t necessarily had the impact of, say, Occupy Wall Street, it has prompted director Tyler Perry to take to his official Web site and defend the reality TV starlet. Sort of.
For those who don’t know, Perry recently cast Kardashian in his upcoming drama The Marriage Counselor. She’s set to play Ava, personal assistant to a professional matchmaker who apparently is interested in clothes, style and fashion. Sounds like a stretch. But thanks to her publicity-generating nuptials, some people are disgusted that Kardashian would be associated with any project related to marriage. And they’re letting Perry know about it.
“I HAVE SEEN THEM!! YOU HAVE BEEN HEARD!! …LOL,” the director blogs. “After I finished writing this movie, I sat back and re-read it. Half way through my read, the gravity of what I had written hit me. I knew that this message was not only for my age group, but for all audiences, especially the youth. ESPECIALLY THE YOUTH!! YOUNG FOLKS NEED TO SEE THIS!!!
“About two months ago, long before I even heard about Kim’s marriage or divorce, I was trying to finish up the casting,” Perry continued. “I said to one of my producers, ‘Who else is out there that young people are looking up to?’ One of my producers showed me pictures that his daughter had taken of several hundred kids lined up around the corner to get into a Kardashian store. They wanted to meet Kim. I thought, what better person! She literally has millions of young people following her. I thought and still do think, that it would be very responsible of her to be a part of this film.”
Let me get this straight: Perry wanted Kardashian in his film because she might bring millions of followers to the theater on opening weekend? Genius. No wonder his films make a fortune. He’s got it figured out! Then again, casting a beautiful face because she happens to be popular at the moment doesn’t always work. Ask Jessica Simpson how her film career’s doing now that the Daisy Duke shorts don’t fit anymore.
As for Kardashian, Perry concludes, “Lastly, because I believe that my films speak from the inside out, why wouldn’t Kim Kardashian be invited into a film about Faith, Forgiveness and the healing power of God? What is wrong with that??”
Nothing. So long as you believe in casting on talent, and handing roles to capable actors who’ve actually earned it.
