Actress Terri J. Vaughn, best known for her role on The Steve Harvey Show, appeared on Mike Muse’s SiriusXM program to discuss her experience working with filmmaker Tyler Perry and the emotional journey behind launching her latest project, We The People, now streaming on Netflix.
Vaughn opened up about the power of saying “yes” and how aligning with Perry changed the course of her production. She spoke candidly about the difficulties of navigating Hollywood and how Perry’s support gave her both creative freedom and professional validation.
“Going with Tyler gave us the power to go into production immediately,” Vaughn said. “Everywhere else, we would’ve had to get a package together, go out and do a pitch. I’ve been in this business for 30 years. I didn’t want to set myself up for a ‘no.’ I went with the ‘yes.’”
Vaughn emphasized the level of collaboration Perry brought to the project. “It was the ‘yeses’ with going with Tyler,” she added. “He’s iconic. He’s a powerhouse. And he was so adamant about hearing our stories—mine, Keisha’s, Niya’s—and implementing our vision for the show.”
The actress also grew emotional when reflecting on her journey and the importance of having a supportive community behind her.
“It is 1000% true about your tribe can make you or break you,” Vaughn said. “I have a wonderful tribe. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, that are amazing producers, production entities… when I wanted to shoot this proof of concept, they said, ‘I got you, Terri.’ That was the response. Now I’m gonna get teary. Because they got me, and here we are because they said yes.”
We The People marks a new chapter in Vaughn’s career—one built on collaboration, belief, and the power of being surrounded by the right people.
