Why Tyler Perry’s STRAW Won’t Reveal the Mystery of Aria’s Father

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Tyler Perry’s new movie, titled “Straw“, resonated deeply with viewers, prompting discussions and marking his first number-one film on Netflix since their collaboration. The crowd has been commending the acting skills of the lead actress Taraji P. Henson, portraying Janiyah, as well as Sherri Shepherd, who plays Nicole. Although the movie’s engaging plotline and captivating execution were highly appreciated, it appears to have neglected addressing a crucial question: who is Aria’s biological father?

The absence suggests viewers ponder if Janiyah’s circumstances could have been altered if Aria’s father had played a role or provided assistance. While Tyler Perry’s movie “Straw” doesn’t explicitly explore this question, it subtly hints and suggests through innuendos, offering the audience a possible insight into the nature of Janiyah’s relationship with Aria’s father.

Regardless of the movie not explicitly revealing Aria’s father, here are some subtle hints and suggestions that help piece together the mystery surrounding this intriguing query.

Subtle Clues Hint at Janiyah’s Complicated Relationship with Aria’s Father in Tyler Perry’s Straw 

In the movie Straw, Aria’s father isn’t explicitly named or portrayed by any actor, creating a mystery as to his identity. However, characters like Janiyah (played by Taraji P. Henson) express their feelings about him in significant scenes, which lets the viewers infer who he might be based on these emotional expressions.

In a first instance, Nicole (portrayed by Sherri Shepherd) passes $521 to Janiyah while addressing her as “Mrs. Watkinson.” However, Janiyah promptly and playfully corrects her, making it evident she prefers to be known simply as “Janiyah.

On another occasion, Nicole lends her extra coat to Janiyah in the workplace. As Janiyah appreciates the scent of the perfume on the jacket, she enquires if it’s costly. Nicole responds, “‘My husband bought it for me.’” During this heartfelt exchange, Janiyah queries, ‘Is he kind to you?’—a sensitive and revealing inquiry that suggests her personal encounters with Aria’s father.

“Is he nice to you?… Good for you, you got to be so careful about who you have a baby with.”

Tyler Perry’s Straw Deliberately Leaves Out Janiyah’s Husband and Aria’s Father — And There’s a Reason Why

It’s crucial to maintain the central theme of Straw’s narrative – struggles with hardship and adversity. As per leading actress Sherri Shepherd, Straw serves as a heartfelt tribute to individuals who persist in the face of numerous challenges, only to encounter one obstacle after another.

The film masterfully emphasizes this challenging situation, even though Perry focuses on certain parts of the plot, it’s evident that overemphasizing other details might have altered the storyline significantly.

Instead of focusing on the frequent disagreements between the termed ‘baby mama’ and ‘baby daddy’, if the identity of the child’s father had been disclosed, it could have shifted attention from the main concern – the sequence of events that triggered Janiyah’s emotional collapse.

Regardless if the father was neglectful, imprisoned, or merely absent, including such a character could have steered the discussion towards a different direction – one that might not correspond with the message Tyler Perry and his crew wanted to convey.

Perry and the actors from the film “Straw” have made it clear on numerous occasions that the movie centers around individuals grappling with adversity, those who lack a safety net, and those persistently encountering obstacles in their lives.

In an interview with actress Sherri Shepherd, who portrays Nicole, during her talk show, Perry delved into the essence of the film “Straw”. When queried about the true focus of the movie, he responded:

“I’ll share the core idea behind ‘Straw’. If you were to ask me what this movie is all about, I’d say…

I composed this piece with women in mind, as well as those who constantly face challenges, day in and day out without respite. Life just seems relentless for them, and often chaos ensues.

Leaving out Aria’s father in the storyline maintains a straightforward message, which is logical given that Straw has become one of Tyler Perry’s top films.

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2025-06-17 00:34