Tyler Perry Defends Casting Kim Kardashian

Kardashian is set to act in Tyler Perry's latest film

Amid a firestorm of controversy since her divorce, petitions have been circulating urging Tyler Perry to fire Kim Kardashian. The reality star is set to star in Perry's latest film The Marriage Counselor, where the cast is currently filming in Atlanta. Still, the highest paid guy in Hollywood came to her defense.

In a statement released on his Web site, TylerPerry.com, the movie mogul said:

About two months ago, long before I even heard about Kim’s marriage or divorce, I was trying to finish up the casting. 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. To have the young people that look up to her, see her in a film that is about, what happens in life when you make the wrong choices. Whether you’re aware of it or not, to be honest with you I wasn’t, millions of young people adore her and are following her every move. If one of those young people see this film and find the strength to live a better life and not go through what these characters went through in this movie, then we have all done what I feel I’m being led to do here. I hope you understand. I really do!

We get it Perry! Instead of boycotting a film and putting a number of African American actors out of work, why don't we see the film first, then judge? Geez!