The first time I saw Benny on The Haves and the Have Nots, I didn't think he’d last. Honestly. He was just this guy trying to do the right thing in a world where everyone else was busy stabbing each other in the back. But Tyler Perry’s flagship soap opera on OWN had other plans. It turned Benny Young, played by Tyler Lepley, into the moral compass of a show that was, frankly, completely off the rails most of the time.
Fans still argue about him. Even years after the finale, the Benny Haves and Have Nots debates rage on in Facebook groups and Twitter threads. Was he a saint? Was he a fool? Or was he just a victim of his own loyalty? It’s complicated.
Why Benny Young Was the Heart of the Show
If you watched the show, you know the vibe. It was high-octane drama. You had the Cryers, who were rich and miserable, and the Youngs, who were struggling but tight-knit. Benny was the bridge. He wasn't just a character; he was the representation of the "Have Not" struggle. He worked at the tow yard. He looked after his mother, Hanna. He tried to keep his sister, Candace, from burning the whole city down—though he usually failed at that.
He was the "Good Son." Every soap needs one. But what made Benny interesting wasn't just his muscles or his smile. It was the constant friction between his desire to be a legit businessman and the gravity of his sister's chaotic lifestyle. You've probably felt that in your own life—trying to stay on the straight and narrow while your family drags you into a mess you didn't create.
Most people forget how much Benny actually endured. He was hit by a car. He was manipulated. He was almost killed more times than I can count. Yet, he stayed anchored to his mother, Hanna Young.
The Dynamic Between Hanna and Benny
Hanna Young, played by Crystal Fox, was the backbone. Her relationship with Benny was the only truly "pure" thing in the series. While Candace was out there blackmailing judges and orchestrating heists, Benny was the one coming home.
It’s rare to see a Black male character portrayed with that much vulnerability on a major network show. He wasn't just a tough guy. He cried. He struggled with his faith. He questioned why life kept hitting him even when he did everything right. That’s the core of the "Have Not" experience Tyler Perry was trying to tap into. It’s the frustration of the working class. You work the double shifts, you pay the bills, and you still get the short end of the stick.
The Problem With "The Good Guy" Trope
Let’s be real for a second. Benny could be incredibly frustrating. There were moments where you wanted to reach through the screen and shake him. Why? Because his loyalty to Candace was often his downfall.
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Candace Young was a hurricane. She was the ultimate "Have Not" who decided she was going to have everything, no matter who she had to hurt. Benny’s refusal to give up on her felt noble at first, but by season five or six, it started to feel like a character flaw. It’s a classic writing choice in soaps. You need the protagonist to be a bit "blind" to keep the plot moving. If Benny had just cut Candace off in season one, we wouldn't have had eight seasons of drama.
But that’s the reality of family, isn’t it? You don't just stop loving someone because they’re toxic. Benny represented that internal conflict perfectly. He was the guy caught between his mother’s rigid morality and his sister’s desperate ambition.
Ranking the Best Benny Moments
You can’t talk about Benny Haves and Have Nots without mentioning the tow yard. It was his sanctuary.
- The Tow Yard Dreams: Benny getting his own business was a huge milestone. It felt like a win for the audience. We wanted to see him succeed.
- The Hospital Recovery: After the hit-and-run, the tension in the hospital was peak TV. It showed how much power the Cryer family had to cover up their crimes and how little power the Youngs had to get justice.
- Standing Up to Jim Cryer: There were moments where Benny stopped being the victim and started being the hero. Seeing him stare down a powerful judge was satisfying.
It wasn't all sunshine, though. The writing often leaned into his "hunk" status a bit too much. There were subplots involving his love life that felt like filler compared to the main power struggle between the families. But Tyler Lepley brought a groundedness to the role that kept it from becoming a caricature.
Why the Show Still Has a Cult Following
The Haves and the Have Nots ended in 2021, but it’s still one of the most-watched shows on streaming platforms like Discovery+. Why? Because it’s relatable. Not the "getting shot at in a mansion" part, but the class struggle.
The divide between the "Haves" (the Cryers and Harringtons) and the "Have Notts" (the Youngs) is a universal theme. Benny was the personification of that divide. He was the one who saw both worlds. He worked for the rich, he cleaned up their messes, but he never truly belonged in their circle. And he didn't want to.
There's a specific scene where Benny realizes that the money the Cryers have isn't worth the soul-crushing secrets they keep. That’s the moment his character arc truly peaked. He chose his peace over their power.
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The Legacy of Tyler Lepley as Benny
This role put Tyler Lepley on the map. Before he was on P-Valley or Harlem, he was Benny. He brought a certain level of "everyman" energy to the role. He wasn't a polished actor when he started, and you can see him grow as the seasons progress. By the end, he was carrying some of the show's heaviest emotional beats.
If you’re rewatching the series now, pay attention to his silence. Benny often said more with a look of disappointment than he did with a monologue. That's the hallmark of a character who has seen too much.
What Most People Get Wrong About Benny
A lot of critics dismissed Benny as a "one-dimensional" good guy. They said he was too soft. I disagree.
If you look closely at the Benny Haves and Have Nots storyline, he was actually one of the most resilient characters. Being "hard" is easy. Being angry is easy. But staying kind in a world that is constantly trying to break you? That’s the hardest thing there is. Benny wasn't soft; he was disciplined. He chose not to become the monster that Jim Cryer was.
He also didn't have the luxury of being a "Have." When the rich characters messed up, they had lawyers and money to fix it. When Benny messed up, he went to jail or ended up in a body bag. The stakes were always higher for him.
Breaking Down the Finale
The series finale was... divisive. That’s a polite way of putting it. Tyler Perry isn't known for "neat" endings.
Without spoiling too much for those who are just starting their binge-watch, Benny’s ending felt abrupt to some. But in a way, it fit the show’s theme. Life for the "Have Nots" isn't always a fairy tale. There isn't always a big payout or a happy sunset. Sometimes, you just survive.
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Actionable Insights for Fans and Content Creators
If you're looking to dive deeper into the world of Benny or even start a fan project about the show, here’s what you need to focus on:
Study the Class Dynamics: The show is a masterclass in portraying the "upward mobility" struggle. Look at how Benny’s tow yard represents the American Dream and how the system constantly tries to take it from him.
Watch for Character Parallels: Compare Benny to Wyatt Cryer. Both are sons of powerful families (in different ways), but their trajectories are opposite. Wyatt has everything and loses himself; Benny has nothing and finds himself.
Follow the Actors: If you miss Benny, follow Tyler Lepley’s career. His transition from the soap world to prestige drama like P-Valley shows the range he developed during his years on the OWN network.
Analyze the Dialogue: Tyler Perry's writing is unique. It’s rhythmic and often repetitive for emphasis. Note how Benny’s speech patterns differ from the "Haves." He speaks with a directness that the wealthy characters lack.
The show might be over, but the conversation around it isn't. Benny Young remains a symbol of the struggle, the hustle, and the complicated reality of being a "Have Not" in a world designed for the "Haves." Whether you loved him or were frustrated by his choices, you can't deny that the show wouldn't have been the same without him.
Check out the early seasons again if you have the time. The shift from the small-scale family drama of season one to the chaotic soap opera of the later years is wild. You’ll see Benny’s transformation from a simple tow truck driver into a man who truly understands the cost of loyalty.