Tyler Perry has been sued for sexual harassment by actor Derek Dixon, who appeared in the entertainment monarch TV drama. Oval shape.
Appearing in 85 episodes of the BET series, Dixon claims that Perry, famously created and starring in the Madeare film franchise, used his power and influence in the industry to silence and harass him while sexually assaulting and harassing him.
The actor is seeking at least $260 million in damages, as originally reported TMZ.
“Perry took his success and power and used his considerable influence in the entertainment industry to create forced, sexually exploitative dynamics with Dixon. Initially, he promises progress in his career and creative opportunities, as he produces his pilot and casts him on shows.
In the lawsuit, Dixon alleges that he first met Perry at an event in 2019, when the filmmakers kicked him out of the crowd and asked for his phone number, suggesting that he might have his role. Dixon was later cast in two episodes of the show ruthless.
In January 2020, Dixon claimed that Perry invited him to his Atlanta home, and he embraced in the hopes of building friendships that could lead to more acting roles. While there, Dixon says he drank too much and ended up sleeping in the guest room. He claims that Perry went into bed with him and began to touch his thighs.
Shortly afterwards, he acquired the role of Dale. Oval shape, However, he was in court with sexually suggestive texts from Perry, who asked about Dixon’s sexual preferences and told him he was having sex with a man.
“What do you need to have innocent sex?” Perry is said to have written in one message. Another read, “Unless they want to fuck you, there’s no straight guy who’s going to cook a walk or dinner with you. I’ll fuck you.”
The lawsuit alleges that Dixon was offered an increasingly prominent role on the show. Perry’s sexual advances have become more aggressive, and Dixon rejects them every time.
In one example, in late 2020, Perry invites him to his Atlanta home and immediately begins a sexually recharged conversation, asking if he “ravaged it in bed,” and grabs Dixon with his throat, saying, “You just look how excited you are.”
In June 2021, during another visit to Perry’s Atlanta home, Dixon says the director entered the room to give his room a “Good Night Hug” while Dixon was wearing only his underwear. Perry pulls her underwear down and gropes the butt section, saying, “Relax and let it come,” adding that it won’t hurt. Dixon says he refused to make progress and was able to lead the conversation to another topic.
The next day, Perry apologized and told Dixon he would work with him on a television pilot that the young actor wanted to produce. The lawsuit alleges that Perry created and purchased the pilot rights; Lose it, However, it was never intended to sell the show, and used it as leverage over the Dixon. Dixon also received a pay raise, but the lawsuit alleges that it is part of an attempt to quiet him down on alleged sexual harassment.
Dixon reported in the lawsuit that he feared backlash when he refused Perry’s progress directly while appearing on the show, complaining about sexual harassment, that he feared he would lose his job. Associated Press.
“Dixon tried his best to seize Perry’s sexual assault while still maintaining the good side of him,” the lawsuit reads. “Perry revealed to Dixon that if Dixon ignored Perry or engaged with a sexual suggester, Dixon’s character would ‘die’. ”
The lawsuit also alleges that Dixon will travel from Atlanta to Los Angeles to distance himself from Perry. He filed a complaint with the US Equal Employment Opportunity Committee in June 2024, but later stopped. Oval After the producers failed to respond to his sexual harassment claims.
Perry’s attorney, Matthew Boyd, alleges that Dixon’s allegation is false.
“This is an individual who approached Tyler Perry because of something that appears to have nothing else but setting up a scam,” Boyd said in a statement. “But Tyler will not be shaken up. I’m sure these forged harassment claims will fail.”
Source: Metro Weekly – www.metroweekly.com
