Tyler Perry has been sued for sexual harassment by a male actor on his show ‘The Oval,’ but the mogul isn’t taking it lying down.
Full story below…
TMZ reports that the tycoon has been hit with allegations of harrassment by Derek Dixon.
Per the suit, Dixon claims he met Perry in 2019 and says that the media maestro made a beeline for him.
In hopes of furthering his career, he gave Perry his number when asked. He claims the star advised him that he had a role in mind for him.
Ultimately, that played out as a 2 episode run in the show ‘Ruthless.’
After drinking too much, he says he slept in the guest room. It’s at this point that he alleges Perry persistently attempted to touch his thighs, despite his rejection of the alleged advances.
Dixon says he then scored the role of Dale on Perry’s show ‘The Oval,’ yet in tandem with this, he claims, were a barrage of sexually-charged messages from Perry.
One allegedly read:
“No straight man would be going on walks with you or cooking dinner for you unless they wanted to f**k you. I would f**k you.”
He attached alleged copies to his filing.
Allegedly blurring the lines between the personal and the creative, Dixon says Perry drew on the character being gay and homeless to broach the discussion about his sexual orientation. Specifically, about whether he slept with men.
He further claims that Perry said he was looking for someone in real life who mirrored aspects of the character of Dale – a sexual partner who would be loyal and dependent upon him.
Allegedly fearing the career ramifications for flatly rejecting Perry, he claims he instead rested on the notion of not being “the sexual type.”
Laying out further claims of harassing behavior across the year 2020, including Perry allegedly asking if he “likes it rough in bed,” Dixon says the darkest encounter took place in 2021.
While staying at Perry’s home in the guest room, he says the mogul came into the vicinity while he was in his underwear…for a goodnight hug. He alleges it was then that Perry pulled down his underwear, grabbed his buttocks, and said, “relax and just let it happen,” assuring him it wasn’t going to hurt.
Dixon says he shook him off.
He adds that after years of the alleged harassment, he filed a complaint with the Equal Employment and Opportunity Commission in June 2024 and quit ‘The Oval,” stressing that he could no longer tolerate the behavior.
Dixon is suing Tyler and Tyler Perry Studios for quid pro quo and workplace sexual harassment, as well as sexual assault and battery. He is seeking a whopping $260 million in damages.
Perry’s attorney Matthew Boyd said in a statement:
“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.”
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Is it possible to believe both sides? Lol Tyler Perry definitely gives creepy closeted vibes who would cross several lines to get what he wants yet this dude also seems as those moneysexual types who would lead anyone on for his own advantage. It’s one thing to be stuck in an abusive relationship but when you fend off allegedly abusive behavior from your boss at his home and then you willingly go there AGAIN that’s a completely different story.
Why would anyone go back to Tyler Perry for a second opportunity to be touch??
Money Talk!
so Madea is not just a character, it is Tyler’s real ego. lol He wants to a White men’s ho so bad. Dixon is giving gay vibe so why not they just get along..
The Boondocks called him out years ago and he got the episode scrubbed lol
So yall back to deleting comments again? Lol shame on you TGJ! Anyway Tyler always gives creepy closeted vibes and this dude definitely gives money hungry bottom vibes 🤣 it’s one thing to be trapped into an abusive relationship but going back to an abusive work place when you have other options… girl Tyler Perry is not the only director in Hollywood
Ha! Karma is a b I t ch! Paulo! Like people are actually your lame ass comments.💅🏽🗑️💩
🤣 I know you reading all of them Ms Fake Ling Ling with the tiny ding a ling 💋