US film and TV giant Tyler Perry has been sued for $260m (£194m) by an actor who has accused the mogul of sexually assaulting him while working on his TV shows. Derek Dixon has filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles accusing Perry of using his influence in the entertainment industry to create a "coercive, sexually exploitative dynamic" while he was acting on The Oval and Ruthless. He alleges Perry promised him a successful acting career but then subjected him to "escalating sexual harassment, assault and battery, and professional retaliation" when he didn't reciprocate Perry's "unwanted advances". Perry's lawyer denied the allegations and called the lawsuit a "scam" to make money. "This is an individual who got close to Tyler Perry for what now appears to be nothing more than setting up a scam," his attorney Matthew Boyd told the BBC. "But Tyler will not be shaken down and we are confident these fabricated claims of harassment will fail." Dixon said he met Perry in 2019 at a work event for Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta, and the pair talked over several months about an acting career. The lawsuit states Perry also allegedly made numerous sexual comments and remarks about wanting a sexual relationship, and made several advances on Dixon - which he rejected. Perry offered Dixon a role in his show Ruthless then later in The Oval. But the lawsuit said: "Mr Perry made it clear to Dixon that if Dixon ignored Perry or failed to engage with the sexual innuendos, Dixon's character would 'die' in the next season." The case claims Perry "always held this over Mr Dixon's head, implying that [his character] 'Dale' would survive if Dixon kept Perry 'happy'". The lawsuit cites several incidents where Perry allegedly sexually assaulted Dixon. The actor accused Perry of interrogating him over his sexual interests in a trailer on the set of The Oval, before pinning him to a wall and fondling him. Dixon said he refused the advance and left the trailer. Dixon said to stop continued harassment, he elected to leave his role on The Oval and declined a job from Perry to work as a writer.
Tyler Perry accused of sexual assault in actor's $260m lawsuit
TruthLens AI Suggested Headline:
"Actor Derek Dixon Files $260 Million Lawsuit Against Tyler Perry for Alleged Sexual Assault"
Bbc News
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TruthLens AI Summary
Tyler Perry, a prominent figure in the American film and television industry, is facing a $260 million lawsuit filed by actor Derek Dixon, who alleges that he was sexually assaulted by Perry during his time working on shows such as The Oval and Ruthless. The lawsuit, lodged in Los Angeles, claims that Perry exploited his influence to create a coercive environment that subjected Dixon to escalating sexual harassment and intimidation. Dixon asserts that Perry promised him a successful acting career but retaliated when Dixon did not reciprocate his advances. According to the suit, Perry made numerous sexual comments and advances toward Dixon, threatening his career by suggesting that his character's fate on the show would depend on his willingness to engage with Perry's inappropriate behavior. The allegations also include specific instances of sexual assault, such as an incident in which Perry allegedly pinned Dixon against a wall in a trailer and fondled him, leading Dixon to ultimately leave his role on The Oval to escape the harassment.
In response to the lawsuit, Perry's legal team has vehemently denied the accusations, labeling them as a fabricated scheme aimed at extorting money from the entertainment mogul. Perry's attorney, Matthew Boyd, characterized the claims as baseless and suggested that Dixon's motives were dubious, stating that the lawsuit represents an attempt to shake Perry down for financial gain. Boyd expressed confidence that the allegations would not hold up in court, emphasizing that Perry will not be intimidated by these claims. The lawsuit highlights the troubling dynamics of power and influence in the entertainment industry, particularly regarding how individuals can leverage their authority to exploit others. As the case unfolds, it raises significant questions about accountability and the treatment of allegations of sexual misconduct in Hollywood.
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