Josephine Wright has refused to sell the property her family has owned in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, to a pushy property developer—and has found an ally in filmmaker Tyler Perry.
Perry offered a new home to Wright, who faced a lawsuit from Bailey Point Investment Group, which accused her of encroachment on her property, a 1.8-acre parcel of land on Hilton Head Island that her family had owned for over 30 years.
After the passing of her husband in 2012, Wright took over the property, and the legal battle ensued when Bailey Point Investment Group aimed to construct 147 homes on the land. They allegedly offered Wright a mere $30,000 for the property.
Wright and her lawyers argued that the allegations of encroachment were baseless, and she expressed her desire to live in "peace and quiet" on her land. The lawsuit raised concerns about intimidation, harassment, and trespassing by Bailey Point Investment Group in their efforts to take ownership of the land.
Now Perry, who has closely followed Wright's case, is stepping in to offer his support by constructing a new five-bedroom home for her. Construction is expected to commence once the necessary permits are issued.
Perry had previously voiced his support for Wright's cause over the summer, when he shared a CNN report about her and implored her to "please tell [me] where to show up and what you need to help you fight."
You can see his post below.
Many have been thrilled by the news that Perry came through.
Wright and her family had previously created a GoFundMe to help pay her legal bills with an intended fundraising goal of $350,000. As of this writing, the fundraiser has surpassed its goal, raising more than $363,000.
A recent update on the GoFundMe page mentioned that a tree had fallen on Wright's home, causing two holes, but thankfully, no injuries were reported.
Wright's granddaughter Charise Graves said her grandmother's story has attracted the support of other Hilton Head Island residents, who've denied "the 'Development Company's' request to move on to the next phase of construction until this matter...is resolved."
Graves added that Wright "is overwhelmed with gratitude for the support she's received from all over the world."
@teamtalaricohq/Bluesky
@MoeJLong/X
@kellyosbourne/Instagram
@variety/Instagram
@GovPressOffice/X