Tyler Perry Addresses Mariah Carey's Exit From 'Colored Girls'

In a letter to his fans, Tyler Perry admits that he was caught off guard by Mariah Carey's sudden withdrawal from his latest film, 'For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf.' But he also had some good news: Thandie Newton, Michael Ealy and Tessa Thompson are set to join the cast.

"I'm there on vacation, celebrating life, thanking God and just relaxing when I get a message that I have to come home, that Mariah has dropped out of the film! I said 'What? You're kidding?' It's five she has to go to work, nobody does that. We have a deal. IT'S FIVE DAYS BEFORE SHE IS SUPPOSED TO GO TO WORK! So, I got on the plane and came home and started trying to re-cast this major role in the film."



"I land and get to the studio, and I'm like, what happened? I was told that we got a call, saying that even though our deal was done, she had been advised by her doctor not to do the film. I said 'What? You know I want a doctor's note, don't you?'" states Perry.

While widespread speculation is that Carey is pregnant, neither the singer nor her husband, Nick Cannon, have confirmed such report.

"But to tell you the truth, I don't know what that means and, unlike the tabloids, I won't speculate. All I know is that I'm waiting just like the rest of the world to find out what happened."

Perry goes to say that he hopes the best for Mariah, "In spite of this, what you need to know is that I am a huge Mariah Carey fan and always will be. What I do know of the woman is that she is a professional and wouldn't back out of a deal unless it was a major issue. So, whatever is going on, I wish her and Nick the best, and she has all my love, prayers and support. I just wish I could have finished my mai tai before I had to get back and re-cast this role!"

In the meantime, filming is underway in New York City with Tyler releasing more names to the cast.

"Anyway, I wanted to announce the official cast, baring anymore doctor surprises: here they are: Janet Jackson, Whoopi Goldberg, Loretta Devine, Anika Noni Rose, Thandie Newton, Kimberly Elise, Kerry Washington, Phylicia Rashad, Macy Gray, Tessa Thompson, Michael Ealy, Hill Harper, Khalil Kain, Omari Hardwick and Richard Lawson."

Unless they have minor roles in the film, left out were Isaiah Mustafa, who was given a spot by Perry on the 'Oprah Winfrey Show' and Jurnee Smollett, who was mentioned by Perry at the premiere of his last film, 'Why Did I Get Married Too?.'