In an industry where art often imitates life, Meagan Good and Cory Hardrict find themselves navigating uncharted emotional territory in Tyler Perry's latest drama film, Divorce in the Black.
Both actors, having recently experienced the personal upheaval of divorce, bring an unparalleled depth and authenticity to their roles. This film is not just a project for Good and Hardrict, it is a therapeutic journey, allowing them to channel their raw emotions and resonate deeply with their characters' struggles. As they delve into the complex tapestry of love, loss, and redemption, Divorce in the Black becomes a powerful conduit for healing, both on-screen and off, offering audiences a truly poignant and relatable narrative.
In a conversation with Out contributor Ty Cole, the actors discuss advice they would give to someone if they were to be in the predicament similar to the film's characters, a stigma about divorce they previously believed, and what God is telling them both at this time.
Out: Have you ever encountered someone going through a situation similar to your character's? If so, what encouraging words did you share, and if not, what advice would you give to someone in that position?
Meagan Good: I would tell them that they're lovable, worthy, and that they don't have to settle and that they don't deserve any of the things that they’re going through. I would also tell them God will bring the right person at the right time. Sometimes the part of that journey is just being by ourselves, you know, and understanding our value and our worth and really just loving ourselves and, you know, if it's meant to be the right person, right time, and that's it, you know, but don't settle, because that's not what you deserve.
Cory Hardrict: You always have another chance just at life, you know, as long as you wake up and you're still breathing, you know, on God's green earth, you know, it can work out for you.
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What’s a stigma about divorce that you previously believed, but that this film helped you see in a different light?
MG: I think I always thought divorce was bad, and now I don't think that it's good. I just don't know anymore – I'm neutral about it.
God is a central part of everyone's life. How have you centered God in this chapter of your life, and what is something He is currently showing or telling you?
CH: I refer back to Psalms 46:10, to which is a tattoo on my arm. To be still, less is more, and move in silence. I believe there's power in silence, and that's just me. I'm an introverted person, and everybody doesn't need to know everything, you know what I'm saying? I feel like people will know Cory Hardrict from his fruit.
MG: I have a scripture on my body, too. "He who has faith, has it to himself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself and what he approves." To me, that means having a relationship with God over religion with God, and understanding that you really have to hear from God for yourself. When you read a Bible verse, it's not about reading it literally, it's about figuring out how you want to apply it. Even though the word never changes, the seasons change. I'm just learning to experience God in a different way and hear from God in a different way, and then understand, too. I think I've spent a lot of my time feeling like, you just gotta get it right. I think what I've realized is that God is proud. It's about being connected to God and hearing from God and always being in tune with God, because we'll spend a lifetime trying to get it right, not realizing that we're not God.
Tyler Perry's Divorce in the Black is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
