Though the feud between Spike Lee and Tyler Perry seems to have quieted down some, two actors who have worked with both directors - Tasha Smith with Tyler Perry, and Laz Alonso with Spike Lee - have now weighed in on the much publicized rift. Smith and Alonso co-star in the new film 'Jumping The Broom,' and spoke to the press on Tuesday night over a dinner at New York's Pranna.
"They both are two different men with two different perspectives in life," said Smith, who starred in Perry's 'Why Did I Get Married Too?' last year and is co-starring in Perry's new TV sitcom, 'For Better Or Worse.' "You would love to see them collaborate and create."
As far-fetched as that may sound, Perry made a similar suggestion last week when he guested on 'The Mo'Nique Show' to promote his current film, 'Madea' Big Happy Family.' "He's a brilliant filmmaker," Perry said of Lee. "There's a lot of things that he could share with me, but for some reason we don't do that."
For his part, Lee is not entirely unaccustomed to collaborating with other directors. His 1995 crime thriller 'Clockers,' which Lee directed, was produced by legendary director Martin Scorsese.
Alonso, who starred in Lee's 2008 war drama, 'Miracle At St. Anna' and considers the director a "very, very good friend," defended Lee's outspoken nature. "Spike can be opinionated about everyone," Alonso said. "When we worked on 'Miracle At St. Anna,' he was very opinionated about Clint Eastwood." Lee and Eastwood memorably feuded after Lee called out Eastwood for not casting any black actors in his World War II films 'Flags of Our Fathers' and "Letters From Iwo Jima.'
"I don't criticize [Lee] for who he is and I don't criticize Tyler for what Tyler does," Alonso continued. "I feel that they are both necessary when it comes to what black film and black Hollywood is. They both portray a different image of black America that needs to be seen and needs to be heard."
The feud between Lee and Perry began over two years ago. In a 2009 interview with Ed Gordon on 'Our World with Black Enterprise', Lee, who has denied any feud with Perry, said of Perry's work, "for me, just the imagery is troubling." Ever since then, Perry has often been asked numerous questions about Lee's remarks and at an April 19 press conference for 'Madea's Big Happy Family' said, "I'm so sick of hearing about damn Spike Lee. Spike can go straight to hell!"
Perry toned down his rhetoric during his appearance on 'Mo'Nique,' saying he was willing to have a face-to-face talk with Lee. As for the possibility of Lee and Perry working together one day, actor and comedian Mike Epps, who was also on hand at the 'Jumping The Broom' press conference, jokingly said, "That'll be a cold day in hell."