A Major Lawsuit Accuses Tyler Perry of Sexual Misconduct

A substantial legal action, totaling $260 million, has been filed in Los Angeles against Tyler Perry, alleging sexual assault and harassment.

Actor Derek Dixon, the plaintiff, claims in his filing that the renowned actor, known for his “Madea” film series, repeatedly assaulted and harassed him. These incidents allegedly occurred both before and during their collaboration on BET’s political drama, “The Oval.”

The accusations against Perry include claims of quid pro quo harassment, hostile work environment harassment, sexual battery, sexual assault, and the intentional infliction of emotional distress. The suit also alleges a violation of the Bane Act.

Perry’s production company, TPS Production Services, is also named as a defendant in the lawsuit, except for the charges related to sexual battery and assault. The company is accused of negligent hiring, supervision, and employee retention practices.

Perry’s legal representative, Matthew Boyd, issued a statement refuting the allegations, characterizing Dixon’s actions as a fraudulent scheme. He expressed confidence that the claims would be unsuccessful.

Dixon’s legal team has chosen not to comment publicly on the case. The lawsuit alleges that Perry leveraged his influence to create a coercive and exploitative relationship with Dixon, retaliating professionally when his advances were rejected.

The legal documents claim Perry threatened to remove Dixon’s character from “The Oval” if he didn’t comply with his demands. The lawsuit further alleges Perry used the potential development of Dixon’s proposed TV series, “Losing It,” as leverage for sexual exploitation.

The complaint describes a pattern of alleged misconduct, where Perry allegedly misused his authority to take advantage of aspiring actors, offering career opportunities in exchange for sexual favors.

The suit details several alleged instances of sexual assault and harassment, starting with an alleged assault at Perry’s Georgia home in 2020 and continuing with subsequent incidents on the set of “The Oval.”

Dixon reports a diagnosis of PTSD stemming from these encounters and claims to have left “The Oval” after reporting the alleged harassment to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Dixon is seeking $260 million in punitive damages.