Acclaimed filmmaker and billionaire media icon Tyler Perry has found himself at the center of a significant legal battle. Derek Dixon, a former actor on Perry’s TV series The Oval and Ruthless, has filed a massive $260 million lawsuit, accusing Perry of sexual harassment, assault, and professional retaliation.
According to legal documents obtained by Good Morning America, Dixon claims the alleged harassment started shortly after their initial meeting in 2019.
The suit alleges that Perry’s actions escalated from “strange and untowardly messages” to an alleged assault in January 2020. Following this, Dixon says he received an acting role on The Oval.
Dixon alleges that the emotional toll from the experience led him to be prescribed antidepressants. He also claimed he felt powerless to speak out due to Perry’s strong influence in the entertainment industry.
The court filing states:
“From this point on, Dixon worked with the constant fear of losing his job if he did not engage with and endure Perry’s sexual harassment.”
Dixon later moved to Santa Monica, California, in what he described as an effort to heal mentally and physically from the events.
Tyler Perry’s attorney, Matthew Boyd, quickly issued a strong response to the claims. As reported by Yahoo News, Boyd described the lawsuit as a baseless attempt to extort Perry.
He stated:
“This is an individual who got close to Tyler Perry for what now appears to be nothing more than setting up a scam. Tyler will not be shaken down, and we are confident these fabricated claims of harassment will fail.”
Boyd emphasized that Perry is prepared to fully contest the accusations in court.
The lawsuit surfaces just weeks before the scheduled July 11 release of Perry’s latest Madea installment, Madea’s Destination Wedding. Meanwhile, his Netflix film Straw, featuring stars Taraji P. Henson and Teyana Taylor, recently premiered and is drawing wide attention globally.
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See some comments below:
@banks_of_africa:”Why is there always an agenda to cripple rich black men??? And I’m it saying he did it or not… I’m just saying why must it always be a black man?”
@thekokoma:”He just messed up his career! 260M he won’t see, Career? Deaddd now! Read all those screenshots not even one inappropriate word and i have a feeling Tyler didn’t write those. Or does he really not know the Difference between “there and their”?”
@she_is_nasa:”Make him more popular please. We love him. Flirting is now called assault?”
@mark_iaomai: “Make una no push Tyler to his last straw oh!!! If not taraji dey learn work for Wetin en go do this guy!”
@akunwa_:”It’s about to go down!!! I’ve had that feeling that they’d come for Tyler Perry soon.”
