Latest news with #US260
The Advertiser
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Advertiser
Tyler Perry sued for sexual harassment and assault
An actor on the US BET television show The Oval has filed a civil lawsuit that accuses media mogul Tyler Perry of repeated sexual assault and harassment. Derek Dixon is seeking $US260 million ($A402 million) in punitive damages from Perry in a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court and reported by TMZ on Tuesday. In the suit, Dixon accuses Perry of "a sustained pattern of workplace sexual harassment, assault and retaliation". A lawyer for Perry called the lawsuit "a scam". "This is an individual who got close to Tyler Perry for what now appears to be nothing more than a scam," lawyer Matthew Boyd said in a statement. "But Tyler Perry will not be shaken down and we are confident these fabricated claims of harassment will fail." Perry is a successful actor, writer and producer of dozens of TV shows and films, including the Madea movie series. Forbes estimates his net worth at $US1.4 billion. The lawsuit claims Perry met Dixon when he was working on the event staff at a party Perry was hosting, and that Perry offered him a role on the series Ruthless in 2019 and a bigger part later on The Oval. Dixon alleges that Perry sent unwanted, sexually suggestive text messages to him. The suit includes screenshots of what it said were exchanges between the two. "What's it going to take for you to have guiltless sex?" said one of the messages that Dixon said was from Perry. After the messages, Perry's behaviour escalated to sexual assault, the lawsuit said. One night at Perry's home, the lawsuit said, Perry told Dixon he was too drunk to drive and urged him to stay in a guest room. Dixon said he woke up in the middle of the night to find Perry in bed with him and rubbing his thigh. In another case, Perry "forcibly pulled off Mr Dixon's clothing, groped his buttocks and attempted to force himself on Dixon", the lawsuit said. Dixon tried to remain friendly with Perry while rebuffing his advances in order to keep his job, the lawsuit said. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028 An actor on the US BET television show The Oval has filed a civil lawsuit that accuses media mogul Tyler Perry of repeated sexual assault and harassment. Derek Dixon is seeking $US260 million ($A402 million) in punitive damages from Perry in a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court and reported by TMZ on Tuesday. In the suit, Dixon accuses Perry of "a sustained pattern of workplace sexual harassment, assault and retaliation". A lawyer for Perry called the lawsuit "a scam". "This is an individual who got close to Tyler Perry for what now appears to be nothing more than a scam," lawyer Matthew Boyd said in a statement. "But Tyler Perry will not be shaken down and we are confident these fabricated claims of harassment will fail." Perry is a successful actor, writer and producer of dozens of TV shows and films, including the Madea movie series. Forbes estimates his net worth at $US1.4 billion. The lawsuit claims Perry met Dixon when he was working on the event staff at a party Perry was hosting, and that Perry offered him a role on the series Ruthless in 2019 and a bigger part later on The Oval. Dixon alleges that Perry sent unwanted, sexually suggestive text messages to him. The suit includes screenshots of what it said were exchanges between the two. "What's it going to take for you to have guiltless sex?" said one of the messages that Dixon said was from Perry. After the messages, Perry's behaviour escalated to sexual assault, the lawsuit said. One night at Perry's home, the lawsuit said, Perry told Dixon he was too drunk to drive and urged him to stay in a guest room. Dixon said he woke up in the middle of the night to find Perry in bed with him and rubbing his thigh. In another case, Perry "forcibly pulled off Mr Dixon's clothing, groped his buttocks and attempted to force himself on Dixon", the lawsuit said. Dixon tried to remain friendly with Perry while rebuffing his advances in order to keep his job, the lawsuit said. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028 An actor on the US BET television show The Oval has filed a civil lawsuit that accuses media mogul Tyler Perry of repeated sexual assault and harassment. Derek Dixon is seeking $US260 million ($A402 million) in punitive damages from Perry in a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court and reported by TMZ on Tuesday. In the suit, Dixon accuses Perry of "a sustained pattern of workplace sexual harassment, assault and retaliation". A lawyer for Perry called the lawsuit "a scam". "This is an individual who got close to Tyler Perry for what now appears to be nothing more than a scam," lawyer Matthew Boyd said in a statement. "But Tyler Perry will not be shaken down and we are confident these fabricated claims of harassment will fail." Perry is a successful actor, writer and producer of dozens of TV shows and films, including the Madea movie series. Forbes estimates his net worth at $US1.4 billion. The lawsuit claims Perry met Dixon when he was working on the event staff at a party Perry was hosting, and that Perry offered him a role on the series Ruthless in 2019 and a bigger part later on The Oval. Dixon alleges that Perry sent unwanted, sexually suggestive text messages to him. The suit includes screenshots of what it said were exchanges between the two. "What's it going to take for you to have guiltless sex?" said one of the messages that Dixon said was from Perry. After the messages, Perry's behaviour escalated to sexual assault, the lawsuit said. One night at Perry's home, the lawsuit said, Perry told Dixon he was too drunk to drive and urged him to stay in a guest room. Dixon said he woke up in the middle of the night to find Perry in bed with him and rubbing his thigh. In another case, Perry "forcibly pulled off Mr Dixon's clothing, groped his buttocks and attempted to force himself on Dixon", the lawsuit said. Dixon tried to remain friendly with Perry while rebuffing his advances in order to keep his job, the lawsuit said. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028 An actor on the US BET television show The Oval has filed a civil lawsuit that accuses media mogul Tyler Perry of repeated sexual assault and harassment. Derek Dixon is seeking $US260 million ($A402 million) in punitive damages from Perry in a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court and reported by TMZ on Tuesday. In the suit, Dixon accuses Perry of "a sustained pattern of workplace sexual harassment, assault and retaliation". A lawyer for Perry called the lawsuit "a scam". "This is an individual who got close to Tyler Perry for what now appears to be nothing more than a scam," lawyer Matthew Boyd said in a statement. "But Tyler Perry will not be shaken down and we are confident these fabricated claims of harassment will fail." Perry is a successful actor, writer and producer of dozens of TV shows and films, including the Madea movie series. Forbes estimates his net worth at $US1.4 billion. The lawsuit claims Perry met Dixon when he was working on the event staff at a party Perry was hosting, and that Perry offered him a role on the series Ruthless in 2019 and a bigger part later on The Oval. Dixon alleges that Perry sent unwanted, sexually suggestive text messages to him. The suit includes screenshots of what it said were exchanges between the two. "What's it going to take for you to have guiltless sex?" said one of the messages that Dixon said was from Perry. After the messages, Perry's behaviour escalated to sexual assault, the lawsuit said. One night at Perry's home, the lawsuit said, Perry told Dixon he was too drunk to drive and urged him to stay in a guest room. Dixon said he woke up in the middle of the night to find Perry in bed with him and rubbing his thigh. In another case, Perry "forcibly pulled off Mr Dixon's clothing, groped his buttocks and attempted to force himself on Dixon", the lawsuit said. Dixon tried to remain friendly with Perry while rebuffing his advances in order to keep his job, the lawsuit said. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
Perth Now
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Tyler Perry sued for sexual harassment and assault
An actor on the US BET television show The Oval has filed a civil lawsuit that accuses media mogul Tyler Perry of repeated sexual assault and harassment. Derek Dixon is seeking $US260 million ($A402 million) in punitive damages from Perry in a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court and reported by TMZ on Tuesday. In the suit, Dixon accuses Perry of "a sustained pattern of workplace sexual harassment, assault and retaliation". A lawyer for Perry called the lawsuit "a scam". "This is an individual who got close to Tyler Perry for what now appears to be nothing more than a scam," lawyer Matthew Boyd said in a statement. "But Tyler Perry will not be shaken down and we are confident these fabricated claims of harassment will fail." Perry is a successful actor, writer and producer of dozens of TV shows and films, including the Madea movie series. Forbes estimates his net worth at $US1.4 billion. The lawsuit claims Perry met Dixon when he was working on the event staff at a party Perry was hosting, and that Perry offered him a role on the series Ruthless in 2019 and a bigger part later on The Oval. Dixon alleges that Perry sent unwanted, sexually suggestive text messages to him. The suit includes screenshots of what it said were exchanges between the two. "What's it going to take for you to have guiltless sex?" said one of the messages that Dixon said was from Perry. After the messages, Perry's behaviour escalated to sexual assault, the lawsuit said. One night at Perry's home, the lawsuit said, Perry told Dixon he was too drunk to drive and urged him to stay in a guest room. Dixon said he woke up in the middle of the night to find Perry in bed with him and rubbing his thigh. In another case, Perry "forcibly pulled off Mr Dixon's clothing, groped his buttocks and attempted to force himself on Dixon", the lawsuit said. Dixon tried to remain friendly with Perry while rebuffing his advances in order to keep his job, the lawsuit said. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
Sydney Morning Herald
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
Actor accuses Tyler Perry of sexual assault in $400 million lawsuit
Los Angeles: 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 $US260 million ($400 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 Oval is one of many television series executive produced by, written by and directed by the 55-year-old billionaire entertainment mogul, who first became known as creator and star of the Madea films and has since built a major TV and movie production empire. As an actor he has appeared in the films Gone Girl and Don't Look Up. Perry is also a close friend of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and Prince Harry, and is the godfather of their daughter Lilibet. He lent the couple one of his homes and supported them as they moved from the UK to the US in 2020 and appeared in their 2022 Netflix documentary series Harry & Meghan. The lawsuit was filed on Friday and first reported Tuesday by TMZ. Perry's lawyer, Matthew Boyd, said its allegations were 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 on Tuesday. 'But Tyler will not be shaken down, and we are confident these fabricated claims of harassment will fail.'
The Age
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Age
Actor accuses Tyler Perry of sexual assault in $400 million lawsuit
Los Angeles: 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 $US260 million ($400 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 Oval is one of many television series executive produced by, written by and directed by the 55-year-old billionaire entertainment mogul, who first became known as creator and star of the Madea films and has since built a major TV and movie production empire. As an actor he has appeared in the films Gone Girl and Don't Look Up. Perry is also a close friend of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and Prince Harry, and is the godfather of their daughter Lilibet. He lent the couple one of his homes and supported them as they moved from the UK to the US in 2020 and appeared in their 2022 Netflix documentary series Harry & Meghan. The lawsuit was filed on Friday and first reported Tuesday by TMZ. Perry's lawyer, Matthew Boyd, said its allegations were 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 on Tuesday. 'But Tyler will not be shaken down, and we are confident these fabricated claims of harassment will fail.'
7NEWS
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- 7NEWS
Hollywood producer Tyler Perry accused of sexual harassment in $US260 million lawsuit
An actor and screenwriter has accused Tyler Perry of sexual harassment, alleging in a lawsuit that the media mogul repeatedly made unwanted advances and sought to cover up an assault with an offer to develop a show. The 46-page complaint, which was filed last week in Los Angeles County Superior Court and seeks punitive damages totalling $US260 million ($A400 million), compares the allegations to those against other well-known entertainment industry figures accused of sexual misconduct. 'Mr. Perry's success has led him to believe that money and influence can get him whatever he wants,' the complaint says. 'Mr. Perry sought the one thing his wealth and influence could not purchase — a sexual relationship with a man who would remain silent.' In a statement, a lawyer for Perry accused the plaintiff, Derek Dixon, of trying to get close to 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.' According to the lawsuit, Perry offered Dixon — who at the time worked for an events company — his first acting role in 2019. A few months later, he invited Dixon to his home in Georgia and served him several drinks before he told him to stay in his guest room, according to the suit. Perry suddenly appeared in Dixon's bed and began groping him, according to the suit. 'Dixon kept informing Perry that he was not into sex in order to keep Perry at bay while at the same time not insulting the person who was dangling his career in front of him,' the suit says. Perry continued to text Dixon about his sex life, according to the suit, which says that the more Dixon ignored Perry the more aggressive he became. After Dixon quit his job and took a role on Perry's show, The Oval, the suit says, Perry would ask about his sexual preferences, go on sexually explicit rants and call or text him almost daily, treating him as his on-call 'pet.' Dixon's character in The Oval was scripted to be shot at the end of the season, but according to the suit, Perry indicated that he might survive the shooting and appear in future seasons if Dixon did a 'good job'. 'Dixon immediately understood his job security depended on his 'relationship' with Perry,' according to the suit, which adds that Perry warned Dixon not to discuss any of their conversations with castmates or tell them about their friendship. Rights to script The suit accuses Perry of groping Dixon twice in 2020, including during a cast trip to the Bahamas. In 2021, at Perry's house, Perry pulled down Dixon's underwear and 'began to vigorously grab, grope, and play with Dixon's buttocks in a sexual manner,' the suit says, adding, 'Dixon was naked, stunned and seized by tremendous fear.' After the alleged assault, the suit says, one of Perry's lawyers told Dixon that 'Christmas came early' because he had done a good job on The Oval. He was given a raise for the following season, according to the suit, and Perry wanted to buy the rights to shoot a pilot for a script Dixon had written, called Losing It. The suit says Dixon struggled with the decision about whether he should go public with allegations of sexual assault or accept Perry's money. He ultimately 'bowed to the pressure', the suit says, and sought to advance his career. While Perry purchased the rights to the script and filmed it, the suit says, he 'had no intention of ever producing Losing It. Perry never made any effort to sell the show or shop it. Perry was only using the show as a quid pro quo to Dixon, holding its production over Dixon's head like the sword of Damocles.' The show was not developed, according to the suit, and Perry later offered Dixon a position as a writer on one of his shows. Dixon turned him down and filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, it says. The status of that complaint was not immediately clear.
