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Tyler Perry at the 2025 Met Gala in a suit created by House of Gray for the occasion. |
American actor and filmmaker Tyler Perry is being sued for sexual assault by an actor who starred in his long-running TV show, 'The Oval', as well as 'Ruthless'. The actor, Derek Dixon, is suing Mr. Perry for $260 million after alleging the film mogul sexual harassed, assaulted him and also committed acts of retaliation.
In the complaint, which was filed Friday, June 13, in Los Angeles, Dixon claims Perry subjected him to sexual harassment, assault, and retaliation between 2019 and 2021, including inappropriate advances in Perry’s home and during a cast trip to the Bahamas. The actor accused Mr Perry of "creating a coercive, sexually exploitative dynamic." and "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 when Mr. Dixon did not reciprocate Mr. Perry's unwanted advances."
Perry's attorney, Matthew Boyd, responded to the complaint, saying, "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."