Latest news with #DerekDixon
News.com.au
15 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
US actor hits Hollywood director Tyler Perry hit with $400m sex assault lawsuit
Tyler Perry has been accused of sexual assault and years of sexual harassment by actor Derek Dixon, who's suing the 'Madea' creator for $260 million (AU$400m). Dixon — who's an actor on Perry's show The Oval — alleges that the movie producer first made sexual advances toward him after inviting him to his home in Atlanta in January 2020, according to court documents obtained by Page Six. Perry denies all accusations, with his counsel labelling the claims 'fabricated'. In the lawsuit, Dixon says that he drank too much and slept in one of Perry's guest rooms. He alleges Perry got into bed with him and touched his thighs, but he rejected Perry's advances. Dixon, who says in his complaint that he first met Perry after he picked him out of a crowd at a 2019 event and asked for his phone number for a possible role, further alleges that after getting cast in The Oval, Perry continued to send him sexual messages. The messages in the complaint allegedly include Perry asking him his sexual preferences and noting that he has sex with men. Dixon claims he again visited Perry at him home later in 2020, in fear that Perry would kill off his character if he didn't. Perry allegedly started a sexually charged conversation, grabbed him by his throat and told him, 'Wow! Look how excited you just got!' Dixon says he was in shock and immediately tried to de-escalate the situation. According to the complaint, Dixon was scared his career would suffer if he bluntly rejected Perry and that he would lose his job if he complained about sexual harassment. The lawsuit includes years of alleged sexually charged text messages from Perry to Dixon, including one that reads in part, 'I would f**k you.' Dixon is seeking $260 million (AU$400m) in damages for quid pro quo, workplace sexual harassment, sexual assault and battery. Perry's lawyer, Matthew Boyd, called Dixon's lawsuit a shakedown in a statement obtained by Page Six. 'This is an individual who got close to Tyler Perry for what now appears to be nothing more than setting up a scam,' Boyd's statement reads. 'But Tyler will not be shaken down and we are confident these fabricated claims of harassment will fail.' TMZ was first to report the news. Perry is the writer, director and executive director of The Oval, a political drama soap that has been running since 2019 on BET. The show also has its own spin-off, Ruthless, on BET+. Perry hasn't publicly dated anyone since 2020, when he split from ex-girlfriend Gelila Bekele. They share a son together, Aman, who was born in 2014.
BBC News
35 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Tyler Perry accused of sexual assault by actor Derek Dixon in lawsuit
US film and TV giant Tyler Perry has been sued for $260m (£194m) by an actor who has accused the mogul of sexually assaulting him while working on his TV Dixon has filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles accusing Perry of using his influence in the entertainment industry to create a "coercive, sexually exploitative dynamic" while he was acting on The Oval and alleges Perry promised him a successful acting career but then subjected him to "escalating sexual harassment, assault and battery, and professional retaliation" when he didn't reciprocate Perry's "unwanted advances".Perry's lawyer denied the allegations and called the lawsuit a "scam" to make money. "This is an individual who got close to Tyler Perry for what now appears to be nothing more than setting up a scam," his attorney Matthew Boyd told the BBC. "But Tyler will not be shaken down and we are confident these fabricated claims of harassment will fail."Dixon said he met Perry in 2019 at a work event for Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta, and the pair talked over several months about an acting career. The lawsuit states Perry also allegedly made numerous sexual comments and remarks about wanting a sexual relationship, and made several advances on Dixon - which he offered Dixon a role in his show Ruthless then later in The Oval. But the lawsuit said: "Mr Perry made it clear to Dixon that if Dixon ignored Perry or failed to engage with the sexual innuendos, Dixon's character would 'die' in the next season."The case claims Perry "always held this over Mr Dixon's head, implying that [his character] 'Dale' would survive if Dixon kept Perry 'happy'".The lawsuit cites several incidents where Perry allegedly sexually assaulted Dixon. The actor accused Perry of interrogating him over his sexual interests in a trailer on the set of The Oval, before pinning him to a wall and fondling him. Dixon said he refused the advance and left the trailer. Dixon said to stop continued harassment, he elected to leave his role on The Oval and declined a job from Perry to work as a writer.
News24
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- News24
US filmmaker Tyler Perry faces explosive lawsuit as actor alleges sexual assault
US film magnate Tyler Perry has been accused of sexual harassment and assault and sued for $260 million by actor Derek Dixon. Dixon is part of Perry's TV show The Oval and filed the suit on 13 June. The actor accused Perry of creating 'a coercive, sexually exploitative dynamic,' according to People. According to the suit, Perry initially promised Dixon a 'career advancement and creative opportunities, such as producing his pilot and casting him in his show, only to subject him to escalating sexual harassment, assault and battery, and professional retaliation when Mr Dixon did not reciprocate Mr Perry's unwanted advances.' After meeting Perry in 2019, Dixon got a small role in one of his projects. In 2020, Perry invited Dixon to his Atlanta home, according to TMZ. This is where Perry allegedly tried to make a sexual advance, which Dixon rejected; however, Perry still remained interested. Dixon also claimed Perry sent him sexually suggestive texts and made more physical advances, too, including groping his butt and grabbing him by the throat. Dixon finally filed a complaint with the Equal Employment and Opportunity Commission in June 2024 and left The Oval due to the alleged sexual harassment. Perry's attorney, Matthew Boyd, told US media: '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.'
CNN
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- CNN
Tyler Perry sued by actor on ‘The Oval' for sexual assault and harassment
An actor who worked on the Tyler Perry-created TV drama 'The Oval' has filed a lawsuit alleging Perry leveraged his industry power to repeatedly sexually assault and harass him while keeping him quiet. The lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court by actor Derek Dixon, who appeared on 85 episodes of the BET series, seeks at least $260 million in damages. 'Mr. Perry took his success and power and used his considerable influence in the entertainment industry to create a coercive, sexually exploitative dynamic with Mr. Dixon — initially promising him career advancement and creative opportunities, such as producing his pilot and casting him in his show, only to subject him to escalating sexual harassment, assault and battery, and professional retaliation,' the lawsuit says. The lawsuit was filed Friday and first reported Tuesday by TMZ. Perry's attorney, Matthew Boyd, said its allegations are false. 'This is an individual who got close to Tyler Perry for what now appears to be nothing more than setting up a scam,' Boyd said in a statement Tuesday. 'But Tyler will not be shaken down, and we are confident these fabricated claims of harassment will fail.' The lawsuit says that Perry first noticed Dixon in 2019 when Dixon was part of the event staff at a Perry party, and later offered an audition. Dixon would first appear in a small role on the Perry series 'Ruthless' before getting the bigger role on the political drama 'The Oval.' Perry soon began sending unwanted sexual text messages to Dixon, according to the lawsuit, which includes screenshots of several of them. 'What's it going to take for you to have guiltless sex?' one of the messages says. The lawsuit says Perry offered Dixon an increasingly prominent role on the show as his sexual advances became more aggressive. The actor says he tried to remain friendly while maintaining boundaries. 'Dixon did his best to tiptoe around Mr. Perry's sexual aggression while keeping on Mr. Perry's good side,' the lawsuit says. 'Mr. Perry made it clear to Dixon that if Dixon ignored Perry or failed to engage with the sexual innuendoes, Dixon's character would 'die.'' The lawsuit says Perry eventually sexually assaulted Dixon on 'multiple occasions,' including an instance where he 'forcibly pulled off Mr. Dixon's clothing, groped his buttocks, and attempted to force himself on Dixon.' Dixon clearly told Perry 'No,' but was initially ignored until he was able to de-escalate the situation and change the subject, according to the lawsuit. The following day, Perry apologized, and told Dixon he would work with Dixon on a TV pilot Dixon was seeking to produce. Dixon later received a raise that the lawsuit suggests was part of an attempt to keep him quiet. He said the fear of his character dying kept him quiet as intended. Perry also produced and bought the rights to the pilot, called 'Losing It,' but the lawsuit alleges Perry had no intention of selling the show and was using it only for leverage over Dixon. The lawsuit describes several other assaults, including one where Dixon was staying in a guest room of Perry's house when Perry climbed into bed with him uninvited and began groping him, the lawsuit alleges. Dixon would eventually move from Atlanta, home to Perry's production studio, to Los Angeles to put distance between the two of them. Dixon in 2024 filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and when that didn't result in any action from the show's producers, he quit. The Associated Press does not typically name people who say they have been sexually abused unless they come forward publicly as Dixon has. 'The Oval' is one of many television series executive produced by, written by and directed by the 55-year-old Perry, who first became known as creator and star of the 'Madea' films and has since built a major production empire in TV and movies. As an actor he has also appeared in the films 'Gone Girl' and 'Don't Look Up.'
CNN
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- CNN
Tyler Perry sued by actor on ‘The Oval' for sexual assault and harassment
An actor who worked on the Tyler Perry-created TV drama 'The Oval' has filed a lawsuit alleging Perry leveraged his industry power to repeatedly sexually assault and harass him while keeping him quiet. The lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court by actor Derek Dixon, who appeared on 85 episodes of the BET series, seeks at least $260 million in damages. 'Mr. Perry took his success and power and used his considerable influence in the entertainment industry to create a coercive, sexually exploitative dynamic with Mr. Dixon — initially promising him career advancement and creative opportunities, such as producing his pilot and casting him in his show, only to subject him to escalating sexual harassment, assault and battery, and professional retaliation,' the lawsuit says. The lawsuit was filed Friday and first reported Tuesday by TMZ. Perry's attorney, Matthew Boyd, said its allegations are false. 'This is an individual who got close to Tyler Perry for what now appears to be nothing more than setting up a scam,' Boyd said in a statement Tuesday. 'But Tyler will not be shaken down, and we are confident these fabricated claims of harassment will fail.' The lawsuit says that Perry first noticed Dixon in 2019 when Dixon was part of the event staff at a Perry party, and later offered an audition. Dixon would first appear in a small role on the Perry series 'Ruthless' before getting the bigger role on the political drama 'The Oval.' Perry soon began sending unwanted sexual text messages to Dixon, according to the lawsuit, which includes screenshots of several of them. 'What's it going to take for you to have guiltless sex?' one of the messages says. The lawsuit says Perry offered Dixon an increasingly prominent role on the show as his sexual advances became more aggressive. The actor says he tried to remain friendly while maintaining boundaries. 'Dixon did his best to tiptoe around Mr. Perry's sexual aggression while keeping on Mr. Perry's good side,' the lawsuit says. 'Mr. Perry made it clear to Dixon that if Dixon ignored Perry or failed to engage with the sexual innuendoes, Dixon's character would 'die.'' The lawsuit says Perry eventually sexually assaulted Dixon on 'multiple occasions,' including an instance where he 'forcibly pulled off Mr. Dixon's clothing, groped his buttocks, and attempted to force himself on Dixon.' Dixon clearly told Perry 'No,' but was initially ignored until he was able to de-escalate the situation and change the subject, according to the lawsuit. The following day, Perry apologized, and told Dixon he would work with Dixon on a TV pilot Dixon was seeking to produce. Dixon later received a raise that the lawsuit suggests was part of an attempt to keep him quiet. He said the fear of his character dying kept him quiet as intended. Perry also produced and bought the rights to the pilot, called 'Losing It,' but the lawsuit alleges Perry had no intention of selling the show and was using it only for leverage over Dixon. The lawsuit describes several other assaults, including one where Dixon was staying in a guest room of Perry's house when Perry climbed into bed with him uninvited and began groping him, the lawsuit alleges. Dixon would eventually move from Atlanta, home to Perry's production studio, to Los Angeles to put distance between the two of them. Dixon in 2024 filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and when that didn't result in any action from the show's producers, he quit. The Associated Press does not typically name people who say they have been sexually abused unless they come forward publicly as Dixon has. 'The Oval' is one of many television series executive produced by, written by and directed by the 55-year-old Perry, who first became known as creator and star of the 'Madea' films and has since built a major production empire in TV and movies. As an actor he has also appeared in the films 'Gone Girl' and 'Don't Look Up.'
