Her home flooded on Valentine’s Day, and an $18K lien kept her from returning. Then Tyler Perry stepped in
Tyler Perry swooped in a few hours after he saw Brenda Daurham needed help
Netizens often tag celebrities in the comments, hoping to get their attention. Brenda Daurham, 81, experienced a beautiful side to that. It all happened after a burst pipe in her kitchen turned her home into a flood zone on Valentine's Day. Worried, Daurham contacted her insurance company; however, they refused to cover her claim. Later, the restoration company placed a $18,000 mechanic lien on her home. On September 1, 2026, FOX 32 Chicago shared her story on Instagram, and people flooded the comments, tagging Tyler Perry, an American filmmaker and actor. They asked him to help Daurham, who couldn't enter her house for 6 months. And guess what? Perry responded in an Instagram post.
'Not our problem'
Daurham, a hairstylist, told the outlet that she had paid Allstate for homeowners insurance for decades. She believed they would cover her emergencies. Sadly, she was wrong. When the pipe under her kitchen sink burst, they blamed the wear and tear, deterioration, and seepage of the house. The restoration company that came to fix it contested Allstate's claim. But the insurance company refused to pay, so they placed a $17,827.96 lien on Daurham's house. She admitted she did not have the money to clear the lien. In the video, she asked for help while sobbing. Thankfully, the internet did its thing and grabbed Tyler Perry's attention.
Tyler to the rescue
On September 2, Tyler Perry took to Instagram and called out Allstate. He wrote, "Hey Allstate! Step to the front real quick. This woman is 81 years old. You call this being in good hands?" On the last slide of his post, Perry addressed Daurham directly and wrote, "Don't worry, Mrs. Daurham, help is on the way." Perry assured he would pay off Daurham's lien. The news outlet reached out to Allstate several times and was notified that the insurance company was "currently looking into this."
Perry's generosity
Tia Ewing, a FOX 32 Chicago host, said, "I talked to Tyler Perry's people... I know he's not going to want to do an interview about this because he's quiet with his money, and I think we all can learn a lesson from that. Like, everything you do doesn't have to be publicized." This wasn't the first time Tyler Perry helped someone in need. In 2009, he made a $1 million donation to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People to celebrate its 100th anniversary. His gift became the biggest donation from an artist at the time. Moreover, when he found out an 88-year-old woman's house was burned down in Atlanta, he visited her, offered her a rented space, and promised to build her a new home on the same plot.
Perry's soft spot
People commended Tyler Perry for stepping up for the old woman. For example, @khamrynb commented, "The story brought tears to my eyes when I watched it I kept thinking, how can we help? I didn’t see a GoFundMe, but wow, look at God. Kudos to you, Tia, for shining light on so many issues and to @tylerperry for stepping in and being such a wonderful blessing." @sweetcheeks5647 shared, "Blessed you Tyler and thanks to this reporter for sharing the story about Mrs. Durham."
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