Tyler Perry has been hit with a lawsuit accusing him of sexually harassing and assaulting an actor on his BET show “The Oval.”
Derek Dixon, who appeared in 85 episodes of the show, alleges in the suit that Perry abused his power in the industry to sexually exploit him. According to the complaint, Dixon was staying at Perry’s guesthouse in June 2021, when Perry groped his buttocks while drunk.
The suit also quotes from text messages, alleging that Perry made numerous sexual remarks and propositions over several years.
The lawsuit seeks at least $260 million in punitive damages.
In response, Perry’s lawyer said the lawsuit is a “shakedown.”
“This is an individual who got close to Tyler Perry for what now appears to be nothing more than setting up a scam,” said Matthew Boyd, Perry’s attorney. “But Tyler will not be shaken down and we are confident these fabricated claims of harassment will fail.”
According to the complaint, Dixon was working for an event company in 2019 when he met Perry at a party for the mogul’s Atlanta studio. The suit alleges that Perry took an interest in Dixon, phoning him and eventually offered him the role of Dale on “Restless.”
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Dixon alleges that Perry hired him for additional parties, and invited him to his home, where Dixon had several drinks. According to the suit, Perry insisted that he was too drunk to drive home and offered him a guest room. The suit alleges that Perry then climbed into bed with Dixon and began to rub against him — prompting Dixon to jump out of bed.
“Dixon kept informing Perry that he was not into sex in order to keep Perry at bay while at the same time not insulting the person who was dangling his career in front of him,” the lawsuit states.
According to the complaint, Perry did not take no for an answer, following up with suggestive text messages and other comments. Soon afterward, Dixon was cast on “The Oval.”
The suit alleges that Perry continued to abuse his power, often making sexual comments on set and asking intrusive questions about Dixon’s life. According to the complaint, Dixon feared that if he did not accede that Perry would kill off his character and destroy his career.
According to the complaint, Dixon also wrote a script for a show, “Losing It,” and that Perry promised to produce the pilot. The suit alleges that Dixon went to Perry’s house in June 2021 to discuss the show – but that Perry then took advantage of the situation and tried to sexually assault him in the guest house.
A couple days later, the suit alleges, Perry called to apologize, blaming testosterone supplements, and again promised to make the show. According to the suit, Perry bought the rights to the show but never intended to produce it.
“Perry was only using the show as a quid pro quo to Dixon, holding its production over Dixon’s head like the sword of Damocles,” the suit states.
The suit states claims of sexual harassment, assault, infliction of emotional distress and retaliation.
Angelique Jackson contributed to this story.
From Variety US