Tyler Perry is many things: producer, director, actor, playwright and multi-millionaire. But he is also a survivor of childhood abuse, something that he revealed to Oprah Winfrey on her show in 2010.
On Monday, Perry drew from that experience to pen an open letter in The Daily Beast to the 11-year-old boy who is alleged to have been one of the victims abused by Jerry Sandusky at Penn State University.
In the letter, Perry writes, "What you have done is so courageous. The strength that it must have taken for your 11-year-old voice to speak out about such a horrible act is something that I didn't have the strength or courage to do at that age."
"I want you to know you didn't do anything wrong. It's not your fault," he writes. Please know that you were chosen by a monster. You didn't choose him. You didn't ask for it and, most of all, you didn't deserve it."
Perry also gives the boy advice on what to expect as Sandusky's trial begins.
"No matter what happens next, just know that the hardest part is over. I wish the coward and very sick individual who hurt you would have the courage to admit his wrong and not put you through a trial. But he will most likely profess his innocence until the bitter end."
"Fight on, my young friend, fight on!" Perry urges in closing. "We are all with you."
