Filmmaker and actor Tyler Perry, known for his role as ‘Madea’, finds himself embroiled in a $260 million lawsuit over allegations of sexual harassment and assault. Derek Dixon, who appeared in Perry’s television series ‘The Oval’, filed the lawsuit on Friday, June 13.
The lawsuit accuses Perry of a “sustained pattern of workplace sexual harassment, assault, and retaliation”. Dixon alleges that Perry’s promises of “career advancement and creative opportunities” were contingent upon his acceptance of unwanted advances. Reports indicate that after resisting these overtures, Dixon faced escalating harassment, assault, and professional retaliation.
Dixon and Perry first met in 2019 at an event for the opening of Tyler Perry Studios. The lawsuit states that Perry subsequently cast Dixon in his show ‘Ruthless’ and began sending him inappropriate messages. In January of 2020, Perry allegedly invited Dixon to his home in Georgia, where an assault is said to have occurred.
Following the alleged assault, the lawsuit suggests Dixon tried to ignore Perry’s increasingly aggressive communication until Perry offered him a role in ‘The Oval’. Feeling his job was at stake, Dixon is said to have endured continued harassment from Perry. According to the lawsuit, a second assault occurred after Dixon’s character was removed from the show, marking his dismissal from the job.
Additional incidents occurred on Perry’s private island in the Bahamas and during a meeting about a pilot for Dixon’s show, ‘Losing It’. The lawsuit claims Dixon moved to Santa Monica, California, in early 2023 to distance himself from Perry, but the alleged harassment continued.
This lawsuit raises important questions about power dynamics and workplace safety in the entertainment industry. Dixon’s attorneys argue that the complaint “speaks for itself”. Meanwhile, Matthew Boyd, an attorney for Perry and TPS Production Services, LLC, dismisses the allegations as a “scam”.
As this legal battle unfolds, it’s critical to remember the importance of due process and the presumption of innocence. We’ll continue to follow this story as it develops, reminding viewers of the importance of staying informed.
