Derek Dixon has filed a lawsuit towards Tyler Perry, claiming that the latter incessantly harassed and sexually assaulted him whereas retaining him silent by abusing his place of authority within the business. Dixon starred in a minimum of 85 episodes of the tv drama “The Oval,” which was created by Perry.
Dixon on Friday, June 13, filed the $260 million lawsuit within the Los Angeles Superior Court docket. The lawsuit’s alleged earlier textual content conversations between Dixon and Perry have now been made public on-line.
In accordance with paperwork, Tyler labored in an environment that allegedly concerned sexual approaches and wrongdoing.
The lawsuit states that Perry used his success and energy, alongside along with his vital affect within the leisure business, to ascertain a coercive and sexually exploitative relationship with Dixon. He first promised him artistic alternatives and profession development, together with producing his pilot and casting him in his present, however as a substitute subjected him to rising ranges of sexual harassment, assault and battery, {and professional} retaliation.
It additionally claims that Dixon was the sufferer of many extra assaults, together with one through which Perry entered his visitor room with out permission and began touching him.
In accordance with Dixon’s paperwork, he lastly left Atlanta, the place Tyler Perry’s manufacturing studio is positioned.
The actor relocated to Los Angeles in an obvious try to disassociate himself from them. In 2024, Dixon complained to the Equal Employment Alternative Fee, and he resigned from this system as a result of the producers did nothing about it.
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Launch of screenshots of earlier texts between Derek Dixon & Tyler Perry
The criticism claims that Tyler Perry began sending Dixon unsolicited sexual texts whereas he was engaged on TV. A number of of those are produced within the courtroom paperwork
“What’s it going to take so that you can have guiltless intercourse? Have y’all discovered that but in remedy?” one of many messages reads.
“I’d hope that you’d let somebody maintain you and make like to you. You might be lacking the very best years of your life, my pal. Belief me. I hope you get previous that block in your thoughts soo,” one other textual content learn.
The subjects of dialog included Derek speaking a couple of spiritual min block, Tyler warning him about disclosing their friendship on set, Perry trying to get a reward on a seaside photograph, and Dixon confessing he was “making an attempt to get off.”
“Hearken to me. When you let the solid know that you simply and I’ve a brand new friendship then you might be opening your self as much as lots of questions and foolishness. You need them to KNOW that you’re there due to your expertise and never as a result of we now have a friendship or as a result of Tony received me to provide you a job. You earned your spot like everybody else. Don’t give individuals a possibility to play you small or they’ll,” learn one of many texts Perry despatched to Derek.
In the meantime, Perry’s legal professional has rejected the allegations as false.
Alleged texts spark uproar
The timing of the disclosure of alleged texts has sparked debate about whether or not it was a calculated try to sway public opinion or scare the events concerned.
The reactions to the leaked Tyler Perry–Derek Dixon messages have been combined. “They don’t show something,” one X person wrote.
“Looks as if flirting somewhat and boring dialog. However individuals are so simply swayed, they’re going to imagine any narrative put out a couple of black man,” one other reacted,
“These texts sound like an older man making an attempt to assist a homosexual man who’s afraid to be homosexual due to his spiritual upbringing. 🤔 Looks as if he is simply being supportive,” a 3rd person stated.
“These messages simply come throughout like two pals speaking. And I don’t even care about Tyler Perry,” one other chimed in.