American actor and filmmaker, Tyler Perry is being sued for $260 million for alleged sexual assault and workplace gender violence.
Derek Dixon alleges Tyler Perry exploited his power, subjecting him to repeated sexual misconduct, according to a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles, as reported by TMZ.
In the lawsuit, Dixon said he met Perry in 2019. He claimed the producer initially promised to help his career but instead subjected him to “escalating sexual harassment, assault, and battery”.
Asserting that Perry had direct control over his employment, salary, and creative opportunities, making it hard for him to speak up, he repeatedly harassed and abused him.
According to Dixon, the first incident occurred in January 2020 when perry invited him to his home In Atlanta.
Dixon revealed he got drunk and had to sleep in the guest room, later on perry entered the room and touched his thighs without his consent.
He alleged that he rejected the advances but perry insisted, leading to multiple incidents over the following years.
The actor also claimed the most severe assault allegedly occurred in June 2021 at Tyler’s home while he was in the guest room, Tyler entered the room and tried to give him a goodnight hug, and ended up groping him.
“On multiple occasions, Mr. Perry sexually assaulted Mr. Dixon, including one instance where he forcibly pulled off Mr. Dixon’s clothing, groped his buttocks, and attempted to force himself on Dixon,” the lawsuit reads in part.
However, Matthew Boyd, Tyler’s lawyer denied the allegations, describing it as “scam”
“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,” he said.
