Tyler Perry has been hit with a lawsuit accusing him of sexually harassing and assaulting an actor on his BET present “The Oval.”
Derek Dixon, who appeared in 85 episodes of the present, alleges in the suit that Perry abused his energy within the business to sexually exploit him. In response to the grievance, Dixon was staying at Perry’s guesthouse in June 2021, when Perry groped his buttocks whereas drunk.
The go well with additionally quotes from textual content messages, alleging that Perry made quite a few sexual remarks and propositions over a number of years.
The lawsuit seeks not less than $260 million in punitive damages.
In response, Perry’s lawyer mentioned the lawsuit is a “shakedown.”
“That is a person who received near Tyler Perry for what now seems to be nothing greater than establishing a rip-off,” mentioned Matthew Boyd, Perry’s legal professional. “However Tyler is not going to be shaken down and we’re assured these fabricated claims of harassment will fail.”
In response to the grievance, Dixon was working for an occasion firm in 2019 when he met Perry at a celebration for the mogul’s Atlanta studio. The go well with alleges that Perry took an curiosity in Dixon, phoning him and finally supplied him the function of Dale on “Stressed.”
Dixon alleges that Perry employed him for extra events, and invited him to his dwelling, the place Dixon had a number of drinks. In response to the go well with, Perry insisted that he was too drunk to drive dwelling and supplied him a visitor room. The go well with alleges that Perry then climbed into mattress with Dixon and commenced to rub towards him — prompting Dixon to leap off the bed.
“Dixon stored informing Perry that he was not into intercourse to be able to preserve Perry at bay whereas on the identical time not insulting the one who was dangling his profession in entrance of him,” the lawsuit states.
In response to the grievance, Perry didn’t take no for a solution, following up with suggestive textual content messages and different feedback. Quickly afterward, Dixon was forged on “The Oval.”
The go well with alleges that Perry continued to abuse his energy, typically making sexual feedback on set and asking intrusive questions on Dixon’s life. In response to the grievance, Dixon feared that if he didn’t accede that Perry would kill off his character and destroy his profession.
In response to the grievance, Dixon additionally wrote a script for a present, “Dropping It,” and that Perry promised to provide the pilot. The go well with alleges that Dixon went to Perry’s home in June 2021 to debate the present – however that Perry then took benefit of the scenario and tried to sexually assault him within the visitor home.
A pair days later, the go well with alleges, Perry referred to as to apologize, blaming testosterone dietary supplements, and once more promised to make the present. In response to the go well with, Perry purchased the rights to the present however by no means meant to provide it.
“Perry was solely utilizing the present as a quid professional quo to Dixon, holding its manufacturing over Dixon’s head just like the sword of Damocles,” the go well with states.
The go well with states claims of sexual harassment, assault, infliction of emotional misery and retaliation.
Angelique Jackson contributed to this story.
