Emily Brown
Filmmaker Tyler Perry is coming to the rescue of a 93-year-old woman who is being 'force[d] off the land' owned by her family since the Civil War.
Josephine Wright, from South Carolina, is in a legal battle with developers Bailey Point Investment LLC as they carry out plans to build 147 three-story townhomes in the area.
Wright was served a legal notice from Bailey Point which alleged a portion of her porch was sitting outside her property line, and encroaching on theirs.
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In response, Wright filed a countersuit alleging the developers and their affiliates are using harassment and intimidation tactics to pressure her off the land - a claim Bailey Point has denied.
Wright has lived in the home for 30 years, though she said her family has lived on the land since the Civil War.
In a bid to help her fight the lawsuit, Wright's family set up a GoFundMe page to help cover her legal fees in which they claimed Bailey Point Investment was 'trying to force her off the land so they can develop it for their profit'.
The 93-year-old has received a wealth of support from strangers as well as celebrities, with Perry among those publicly showing that he's on her side.
He shared her story on Instagram, writing: "'I’ve pretty much been a fighter all my life' said 93 year old Josephine Wright. Well, that makes two of us. Ms. Wright, please tell where to show up and what you need to help you fight."
Following his initial show of support in June, Perry is now reported to be levelling up his help.
According to TMZ, Perry is now building a new five-bedroom home for Wright in South Carolina to replace the one she has been living in with her grandchildren.
Perry's construction crew is expected to break ground on the home in the coming weeks, once they've got the necessary permits.
The news likely couldn't come at a better time for Wright, as an update on the GoFundMe page last month revealed that a tree had fallen on the roof of Wright's house.
"After we had an amazing weekend celebrating and honoring Grandma Josephine in Bluffton at the Roots & Rivers Festival and through a powerful yoga session at her home on Sunday, the tree decided to give up and give in," the page said.
"Grandma Josephine wasn't home and luckily, no human was injured. I can't say the same for the house. She sustained 2 holes in her roof."
Wright's family has also thanked all of those who have showed their support for the elderly woman on GoFundMe, with donations now exceeding the $350,000 goal set on the fundraiser.
UNILAD has contacted a representative for Perry for comment.