Tyler Perry Holds Off Production Due To Coronavirus Risk In GA

ATLANTA, GA — Georgia’s film and television industry has felt the impact of the coronavirus. Atlanta media mogul Tyler Perry is included. He has decided to halt all production on his original programming for films and TV shows.

Perry’s productions are seen on the Oprah Winfrey Network, Nickelodeon and BET. A studio rep tells WXIA that Perry has put everything on hold for now.

Other productions who lease out space at the Tyler Perry Studios have stopped too. On Tuesday he posted on Instagram a screenshot of Grammy-award winning singer Yolanda Adam’s “This Too Shall Pass” cover.

“Been listening to this song over and over to encourage myself, to stay positive, and to remember that this is all in God’s hands and that this too shall pass. But until then, we’ve got to take it seriously,” Perry wrote.

In the long post, Perry questions why the world is experiencing the pandemic. He then goes on to urge people to take social distancing seriously and to think of others.

“Take care of the people who are at higher risk. Let’s not be selfish because we're not in the higher risk groups. Let’s help protect them. And most of all, for those of us who do pray, let’s send up some strong and solid fasting and prayers for this nation, our world, and all of those affected by this, which is ALL OF US!! This too shall pass.”

Netflix, Disney, and MGM Studios have also postponed projects because of the risk of the coronavirus spreading.

Globally, more than 222,000 people have been infected and more than 9,100 people have died from the COVID-19, Johns Hopkins reported Thursday. Of that total, more than 81,000 confirmed cases are in China, while the entire United States has 9,400 confirmed cases as of Thursday. There have been 150 deaths in the U.S. tied to the virus outbreak.