Tyler Perry has never been one for subtlety—his stories crash through living rooms like a sermon wrapped in soap opera. His world is one where pain is poetic, every man is either a savior or a curse, and women carry storms in their eyes. Films like Acrimony
and Diary of a Mad Black Woman
turned heartbreak into high art. But then came Straw
—loud, lavish, and laced with chaos. Yet this time, instead of applause, there was hesitation. The drama was there. The magic was not.
Released on Netflix on June 6, 2025, Straw
was expected to be another Tyler Perry rollercoaster of heartbreak and revelation. Instead, it stumbled out of the gate, earning a middling 47% on Rotten Tomatoes and a shrug-worthy 56 on Metacritic. Critics were unimpressed, but the real blow came from Reddit viewers.
The emotions felt forced, and fans were left disappointed.
Straw
follows Janiyah Wiltkinson, a single mother caught in a relentless storm of poverty, injustice, and grief. After losing her daughter to a seizure, an event she cannot emotionally accept, Janiyah spirals into a day filled with brutal realities, hallucinations, and desperation, culminating in a bank standoff. With public sympathy rising and past trauma unraveling, the film paints a harrowing portrait of a woman pushed beyond her limits. Despite becoming one of Netflix’s most-watched releases and having an exceptional cast
, it has sparked backlash from fans for its heavy-handed execution.
Reddit was far from forgiving. Fans voiced their blunt disappointment, slamming Straw
as one of Tyler Perry’s most emotionally manipulative misfires and a melodrama that pushed too far.
Tyler Perry’s Straw draws fire online as fans vent frustration
Tyler Perry’s Straw
has unleashed a wave of brutally honest reactions on Reddit, with fans filling comment threads with fierce disappointment. While Taraji P. Henson earned praise, “What a waste of Taraji”
, viewers made it clear the film’s plot did not deliver. From “unrealistic dialogue”
to “Straw is one of the worst movies I’ve ever seen,”
responses were scathing. One user summed it up bluntly: “Made it about 7 minutes in before I noped out.”
Fans have not held back.
Straw has a great message centered on the dire cost of poverty; especially for Black women.
However, Straw has a very weak and loose storyline. I think it’s the worst movie I’ve ever seen. Taraji Henson shouldn’t have attempted soiling her reputation starring in this project. pic.twitter.com/C9Ul8qb1Mr
— Maazi Uchechukwu (@ip_uchechukwu) June 13, 2025
The reactions to Tyler Perry’s Straw
on Reddit have been overwhelmingly harsh, with many fans tearing into the film’s plot and tone. However, amid the backlash, a quieter group stepped forward to defend it. Some viewers shared, “I liked it,”
while others found emotional resonance, saying, “Could relate to when I was a single mom.”
One user even noted, “I liked it. Felt like they really made her easy to connect to.”
The film remains deeply divisive.
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What do you think about Straw
facing fan backlash? Let us know in the comments below.