Donald Glover hopes Tyler Perry “understands” his parody of him in the TV show Atlanta.
In one episode in the show’s fourth season, Glover donned heavy prosthetic makeup to play a Black studio head named Kirkwood Chocolate, who is known for lowbrow but popular films.
Donald Glover revealed in a cover interview with GQ that he gave Perry a heads-up about the spoof but hasn’t heard from him since the episode aired in October 2022.
“I told him I was gonna do it,” he shared. “I don’t know how he took it. I texted him once, I think, for something… I didn’t hear back. That’s the thing about being Black. It becomes so personal so fast. I’m not s####### on you.”
The “Community” actor hopes Perry doesn’t see the gag as a personal attack because it was not intended that way.
“If somebody did that about me, I’d be like, that’s good. He has a right to not feel that way,” he added. “I hope (he) understands. I still want to shoot at his studio someday.”
When asked how he can commit to a joke that might offend someone, Glover explained, “Because I’m not a politician. I’m an artist, and I’m good. I’m a good artist. That’s the difference. If I didn’t think I was a good artist, then I’d be like, Maybe I shouldn’t do this. But this is nuanced and funny.”
The fourth and final season of Atlanta ended in November.
