A $260 million lawsuit has been filed against renowned filmmaker Tyler Perry, best known for his ‘Madea’ franchise, by TV actor Derek Dixon. Dixon has leveled accusations of sexual assault and recurring sexual harassment against Perry. He is known for his role in Perry’s television series ‘The Oval.’ The alleged incidents reportedly began in January 2020 when Dixon was first invited to Perry’s Atlanta residence.
The court filing reveals that Dixon was accused of drinking excessively during his visit and eventually stayed over in a guest room within Perry’s home. In his claim, Dixon recounts that Perry reportedly entered the bed where he was resting and made physical contact with his thighs. However, he states that he rebuffed the unnamed film producer’s approaches.
Dixon is recognized for his role in ‘The Oval,’ a Perry production aired on BET since 2019. According to the actor, he has made appearances in around 85 episodes of the drama. Dixon reports that he first encountered Perry at a 2019 event where Perry selected him from the audience and requested his contact information for a potential acting opportunity.
The actor further alleges that, following his casting in ‘The Oval,’ Perry persistently sent him inappropriate messages. According to Dixon’s allegation, these communications included Perry inquiring about Dixon’s sexual inclinations and divulging his own sexual activities with other men.
The actor alleges he returned to Perry’s home later in 2020, driven by a fear that Perry would eliminate his character from ‘The Oval’ if he protested. As per Dixon, Perry initiated a sexually suggestive conversation during this visit and, at one point, seized him by the throat, posited an interpretation of his visible agitation.
Dixon stated that he was taken aback by Perry’s assertiveness and made an attempt to defuse the escalating tension. His lawsuit also mentions his fear of direct confrontation with Perry due to the potential negative impact on his career and a concern that addressing the allegations of sexual harassment could result in job loss.
In his claim, Dixon specifies years of supposed messaging exchanges with Perry, with a characteristically sexual undertone to Perry’s messages. He seeks a substantial sum of $260 million in damages, citing quid pro quo, workplace sexual harassment, sexual assault, and battery as reasons for the claim.
Responding to the severe allegations, Perry’s attorney, Matthew Boyd, has referred to Dixon’s lawsuit as an attempt to illegally extort his client. Boyd issued a statement expressing his conviction that Dixon had sought an affiliation with Perry purely to set the stage for a fraudulent claim.
Boyd’s firmly worded statement asserts, ‘This is a person who befriended Tyler Perry under false pretenses with dishonest intentions. Tyler will stand his ground, and we are confident that these concocted allegations of harassment will be debunked.’
Interestingly, Dixon’s claim is identical to the existing lawsuit, demanding $260 million for the same accusations of quid pro quo, workplace sexual harassment, sexual assault, and battery. Perry, who serves as the writer, director, and executive producer of ‘The Oval,’ has been nurturing the political drama soap since its inaugural season launched in 2019 on BET.
The popular program also spawned a spinoff, ‘Ruthless,’ under Perry’s creative stewardship. Notably, Perry’s personal life has been largely out of the public eye since his break up with previous partner Gelila Bekele in 2020.
Perry, a multi-talented director, writer, and executive producer, sired a son, Aman, in 2014 with ex-girlfriend Bekele, marking the only known child of the famed entertainment mogul. With Dixon’s lawsuit now public, Perry’s life – both professional and personal – may face considerable scrutiny, something that is bound to generate media interest in the near future.