C’mon, Everybody, Tyler Perry Only Put Kim Kardashian Into His New Movie Because He’s Trying to Inspire the Kids

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Tyler Perry probably has to deal with a certain amount of criticism on a daily basis. Movie reviewers have never warmed to his films, even though they do pretty good business, and he's also had to endure attacks from his filmmaking peers -- particularly Spike Lee, who accused him of all types of terrible things. But apparently that all was dwarfed in comparison to the grief he's been getting ever since it was announced that Kim Kardashian would be co-starring in his new film, "The Marriage Counselor." But he's sick of it! So sick of it that he took to his website to explain his rationale. Basically he wants to make sure young people see his new movie -- and all young people love Kim Kardashian, right?

Movieline uncovered a post Perry wrote at the end of last week where he sounded off on those Kardashian haters. Apparently, when you have little old ladies bothering you at dinner about your casting choices, it's time to let fly with an online missive:

I was in a Mexican restaurant and the cutest little old woman stopped me and said, "I want to talk to you about KAR-DAT- CHA-NEM." I said, "Ma'am?" She said, "What is wrong with you putting her in the lead role of your movie?" By the time I explained to her that she was not in the lead role and why I thought she should be in "The Marriage Counselor", she said, "Oh, I see your point and I can't wait to see the movie." So, if you don't mind, I'd like to share with you what I said to her then maybe you'll see why I wanted her in the film.

From there, Perry went into an epic rundown of the movie's plot. (It's based on a play he wrote.) To summarize, it's a movie about a religious, recently married young woman (Jurnee Smolett) who has her life shaken by meeting a new man (Robbie Jones) who challenges her worldview. It sounds very much like the romantic melodramas he's done in the past. But Perry had an ah-ha moment:

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!!! And not just the young people that follow me, but the young people that are following other young people, as well. I wanted a younger cast, that's why I put Jurnee in the lead and invited Lance Gross, Robbie Jones and Brandy. 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!

He really does!

We're not sure what constitutes a "young person" -- Perry is 42 -- but we're pretty sure we're offended. Essentially, he's hoping that Kardashian's popularity will translate into people seeing his film. When her casting was first announced, it couldn't help but seem like a gimmick -- the same way people decide to cast Paris Hilton or Carmen Electra -- but now we see that it was all for a greater good. Perry wants young people to understand the importance of not making wrong choices. Speaking of wrong choices, we wonder if he's not regretting right now asking his producer about who he should cast. Life is so much easier when he just says screw it and does another Madea film.

Tyler Perry Stars in Tyler Perry's Why Did I Cast Kim Kardashian? [Movieline]