Tyler Perry, considered one of Hollywood’s strongest media moguls, is dealing with critical allegations from actor Derek Dixon, who filed a lawsuit claiming sexual harassment, assault, and battery stemming from their skilled relationship on Perry’s hit present The Oval.
In line with courtroom paperwork obtained by TMZ, Dixon alleges that Perry’s conduct started in 2019, shortly after the 2 met at an occasion. Dixon says Perry approached him, requested for his cellphone quantity, and later supplied him a minor position on Ruthless. What initially seemed to be a profession alternative rapidly turned uncomfortable, in accordance with the swimsuit.
In January 2020, Dixon claims Perry invited him to his Atlanta residence underneath the guise of constructing a friendship and mentorship. Throughout this go to, Dixon says he drank an excessive amount of and slept in a visitor room, solely to get up and discover Perry within the mattress, touching his thighs. Dixon alleges he rejected Perry’s advances that evening, however says the inappropriate habits continued.
Shortly after, Dixon landed the recurring position of Dale on The Oval. Whereas the position marked knowledgeable breakthrough, Dixon claims it got here at a troubling value. He accuses Perry of sending sexually suggestive textual content messages, together with questions on his sexual preferences and statements like “I’d f**okay you.” He additionally claims Perry advised him he was in search of a companion who, like his character Dale, could be loyal and depending on him.
Dixon says he feared that outright rejection would finish his profession. As an alternative, he tried to distance himself subtly, telling Perry he wasn’t “the sexual sort.” Regardless of that, he alleges the harassment intensified. In a separate alleged incident later in 2020, Dixon claims Perry grabbed him by the throat throughout a sexually charged dialog and commented, “Look how excited you simply received.”
Probably the most extreme allegation occurred in June 2021, when Dixon says Perry pulled down his underwear and groped him whereas trying to provoke a sexual act. Dixon says he deflected the advance by altering the topic.
Dixon claims he in the end filed a criticism with the Equal Employment Alternative Fee (EEOC) in June 2024, citing ongoing sexual harassment. He later resigned from The Oval, saying the alleged abuse had change into insupportable.
The lawsuit names each Tyler Perry and Tyler Perry Studios as defendants and seeks $260 million in damages for alleged quid professional quo harassment, office harassment, and sexual assault.
Perry, by way of his lawyer Matthew Boyd, has denied all allegations. In an announcement, Boyd stated:
“That is a person who received near Tyler Perry for what now seems to be nothing greater than establishing a rip-off. However Tyler won’t be shaken down and we’re assured these fabricated claims of harassment will fail.”
As of now, no trial date has been set, and the case stays underneath authorized evaluation.
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