Producer Tyler Perry accused of sexual harassment and assault in lawsuit

Reports have emerged regarding a civil lawsuit filed against media mogul Tyler Perry, accusing him of sexual harassment and assault.

The lawsuit was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court by Derek Dixon, an actor who has appeared on Perry's BET television show, "The Oval." TMZ first reported on the filing this past Tuesday.

In the legal complaint, Dixon alleges Perry engaged in "a sustained pattern of workplace sexual harassment, assault and retaliation." He is reportedly seeking $260 million in punitive damages.

Perry's attorney, Matthew Boyd, has responded to the allegations, calling the lawsuit a "scam." In a statement, Boyd asserted that Dixon "got close to Tyler Perry for what now appears to be nothing more than a scam" and stated confidently that Perry "will not be shaken down and we are confident these fabricated claims of harassment will fail."

Tyler Perry is a highly successful figure in film and television, known for creating and producing numerous shows and movies, including the popular Madea series. Forbes estimates his net worth at $1.4 billion.

According to the lawsuit, the relationship between Perry and Dixon began when Dixon was working at an event Perry was hosting. Dixon claims Perry later offered him a role on the series "Ruthless" in 2019, followed by a larger part on "The Oval."

The lawsuit further alleges that Perry sent Dixon unwanted, sexually suggestive text messages. Screenshots, purported to be exchanges between the two, were included in the filing, with one message allegedly from Perry asking, “What’s it going to take for you to have guiltless sex?”

The complaint claims that after these messages, Perry's actions escalated to sexual assault. One incident detailed in the lawsuit allegedly occurred at Perry's home, where Perry is said to have encouraged Dixon to stay overnight because he was too intoxicated to drive. Dixon states he woke up during the night to find Perry in bed with him, rubbing his thigh.

Another serious allegation in the lawsuit describes Perry "forcibly pull[ing] off Mr. Dixon’s clothing, grop[ing] his buttocks, and attempt[ing] to force himself on Dixon."

Dixon claims in the lawsuit that he attempted to maintain a friendly demeanor towards Perry while simultaneously rejecting his advances out of concern for his job. The lawsuit alleges that Perry made it clear that Dixon's character on the TV show could be written off if he ignored Perry or did not participate in his "sexual innuendos."