Filmmaker Tyler Perry is facing a $260 million lawsuit over allegations of sexual assault and gender-based workplace violence.
According to TMZ, actor Derek Dixon—who appeared in Perry’s television shows The Oval and Ruthless—filed the suit in Los Angeles, accusing Perry of using his position of power to engage in repeated sexual misconduct.
Dixon claimed he met Perry in 2019, and although the filmmaker initially offered to support his career, the relationship allegedly turned into one marked by “escalating sexual harassment, assault, and battery.”
The lawsuit further states that Perry had direct authority over Dixon’s employment, pay, and creative roles, which he allegedly used to subject the actor to ongoing abuse
The first incident, according to Dixon, allegedly occurred in January 2020 when Perry invited him to his Atlanta home.
Dixon claimed he consumed too much alcohol and later, while sleeping in a guest room, Perry entered the bed and touched his thighs without consent.
Dixon alleged that he rejected the advances, but Perry persisted, leading to multiple incidents over the following years.
The actor also claimed that the most serious incident allegedly occurred in June 2021 at Tyler’s home while he was in the guest room.
He claimed that he was dressed only in his underwear when Tyler entered the room, tried to give him a goodnight hug, and ended up groping him.
“On multiple occasions, Mr. Perry sexually assaulted Mr. Dixon, including one instance where he forcibly pulled off Mr. Dixon’s clothing, groped his buttocks, and attempted to force himself on Dixon,” the lawsuit reads in part.
Matthew Boyd, Tyler’s lawyer, however, denied the allegations, describing them as a “scam”.
“This is an individual who got close to Tyler Perry for what now appears to be nothing more than setting up a scam. But Tyler will not be shaken down, and we are confident these fabricated claims of harassment will fail,” he said.