Tyler Perry Is Being Sued By A Nonprofit Organization For His New Series ‘She The People’

Netflix’s She the People Faces Legal Firestorm: Nonprofit Founder Sues Tyler Perry for Alleged Trademark Infringement

Netflix’s recently released comedy series She the People has quickly stirred up more than just critical buzz—it’s now at the center of a legal controversy. Ami Allison, founder and president of the nonprofit organization She the People, has filed a lawsuit against Tyler Perry, Netflix, Terry J. Vaughn, Tyler Vision LLC, and Tyler Perry Studios, alleging infringement on her organization’s trademark and brand identity.

According to the complaint, the lawsuit was filed shortly before the series officially premiered. Allison claims that the show improperly uses her organization’s established name, themes, and brand equity, which she has cultivated through political activism focused on Black women’s issues. While She the People the series takes a more comedic and light-hearted approach—following a newly elected Lieutenant Governor dealing with issues relevant to women of color—Allison argues the overlap is substantial enough to cause confusion and dilute the goodwill of her existing brand.

A preliminary trademark search reportedly revealed that Perry had filed for the “She the People” trademark through legal counsel. However, the application was initially denied, partly due to its similarity to Allison’s already-registered mark. Although Allison hasn’t made a direct public statement about the series itself, she recently shared a video emphasizing the importance of defending creative ideas and brand ownership.

This isn’t the first time prominent figures in entertainment have faced legal backlash over intellectual property. Similar lawsuits have previously targeted Oprah Winfrey and the OWN Network for the show Greenleaf. Tyler Perry himself has also been involved in prior disputes over alleged idea theft.

As of now, it remains unclear whether the legal battle will affect the release of She the People Season 1 Part 2, slated to drop in August, or any plans for a second season. Many in the industry speculate the case could be settled quietly, as is often the case with such lawsuits, especially when celebrities and major studios are involved.

The entertainment world will be watching closely to see how this unfolds—whether it becomes a landmark case about brand identity in the streaming era, or simply another behind-the-scenes legal battle that never reaches a courtroom.