When Why Did I Get Married? hit theaters in 2007, it quickly became one of Tyler Perry’s most talked-about ensemble dramas. Centered on four married couples who take an annual vacation together, the film delved into infidelity, self-worth, and emotional neglect.
Two powerhouse singers anchored the cast: Janet Jackson, who played Patricia, and Jill Scott, whose portrayal of Sheila remains one of the movie’s most painful storylines.
Sheila’s introduction is intentionally jarring. While boarding a plane with her husband, Mike, played by The Rookie star Richard T. Jones, she’s met with humiliation almost immediately: Mike refuses to sit next to her, another passenger complains about her size, and Sheila eventually makes her way to Colorado for the couple’s retreat alone. The moment establishes the emotional isolation that defines her arc throughout the film.
Years later, Scott has spoken candidly about how difficult that scene was to make. During an interview with Angie Martinez, the singer revealed that the harsh treatment wasn’t limited to what viewers saw on screen.
According to Scott, some of the extras leaned fully into fat jokes even before the cameras rolled. “The scene on the plane, Tyler had extras make fun of me… when I got on the plane,” she explained, recalling how comments about Sheila’s weight were being tossed back and forth.
Scott wore a fat suit for the role, a physical transformation that required her to adjust her movement and posture to make Sheila feel authentic. Still, the off-camera remarks caught her off guard. “But the folks on the flight really went in on fat jokes,” she said.
Reflecting on the experience later, Scott didn’t soften her reaction. “Sorry, Tyler. I hated that s**t,” she said plainly. “Sincerely hated it.”
Despite that, Scott made it clear the experience didn’t sour her on everyone involved. She had glowing praise for Jones, calling him “literally one of the nicest people on the planet,” adding that she’d happily “bite him and hug him” if she ran into him.
