Tyler Perry calls sexual assault allegations against him a ‘scam'
Speaking through his attorney, actor Tyler Perry has described accusations of sexual assault against him by an actor on one of his shows as a 'scam'.
'This is an individual who got close to Tyler Perry for what now appears to be nothing more than setting up a scam,' said Perry's lawyer, Matthew Boyd.
ALSO READ: Selbeyonce bids farewell to Ukhozi FM after 13 years
Lawsuit against Tyler Perry
In the lawsuit papers, actor Derek Dixon says he first met Perry in 2019 at an event where the latter picked him out of the crowd and asked for Dixon's number. Soon after, Dixon landed a role on Perry's TV show, Ruthless.
Dixon filed a lawsuit against Perry, claiming that Perry made advances on him in 2020 after the Madea actor had invited Dixon to his home.
The lawsuit alleges that Perry got into bed with him after Dixon had too much to drink. Dixon claims Perry touched his thighs, and although he rejected the advances that night, Dixon claims Perry remained interested in him.
Soon after, Dixon landed a bigger role in Perry's political drama series The Oval, featuring in all six seasons of the series.
Dixon's lawsuit includes alleged texts between the two where Perry flirts with the actor. Dixon seemingly rebuffs Perry without trying to offend him out of fear of losing his job.
However, Dixon eventually complained about the alleged misconduct; however, the 'defendants did not make any investigation into the complaint and did not take any steps to prevent further harassment from occurring.'
He then quit The Oval, claiming that the decision to leave the long-running show cost him $400 000 (more than R7 million) in lost wages.
But Perry's lawyer said, 'Tyler will not be shaken down and we are confident these fabricated claims of harassment will fail.'
Dixon is suing for a total of $260 million in damages, as well as legal expenses.
ALSO READ: 'Black Women and Sex': South African filmmaker wins at American Black Film Festival
Perry's Straw finds success
Meanwhile, the Perry-directed film Straw, released on Netflix on the first Friday of June, has found success on the platform.
The film, starring Taraji P. Henson, has garnered the highest numbers on Netflix in a single week for a movie.
According to Netflix's companion website Tudum, the Perry-written and produced film was a Top 10 hit on Netflix in all countries, and was the third most-watched title on IMDb this past week, amassing an additional 48.9 million views.
NOW READ: Proteas WAGS: Meet SA's gorgeous cricket maidens! [IN PICS]
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
TimesLIVE
10 hours ago
- TimesLIVE
Aliens, immigrants
Zoe Saldaña was the name on everyone's lips earlier this year when she took home the Oscar for Netflix's Emilia Perez. It capped a year of amazing performances including season 3 of The Lioness, an espionage thriller on Apple TV that showcases a mother who is also an operative going into the world's hotspots. What happens to the families and children of women who go to war is something we never think about, but the juggle of life and family is something most women do daily without acclaim. The balance of work and child rearing is one of the adult themes that runs through the animated film, Elio...
The South African
18 hours ago
- The South African
Julian McMahon, Australian actor of ‘Nip/Tuck' passes away
Julian McMahon, the Australian actor renowned for his roles in the hit TV series Nip/Tuck and the Fantastic Four films, has died at the age of 56. His passing was confirmed by his wife, Kelly McMahon, who revealed that he died peacefully after a private battle with cancer. Born in Sydney on 27 July 1968, Julian was the only son of Sir William McMahon, a former Prime Minister of Australia. He began his career as a model before transitioning to acting in the late 1980s. His early roles included the Australian soap opera Home and Away and the crime drama Profiler , according to The Hollywood Reporter. However, it was his portrayal of Dr Christian Troy in Ryan Murphy's Nip/Tuck that truly catapulted him to international fame. The series, which explored the complex lives of two plastic surgeons, ran for six seasons from 2003 to 2010. It earned McMahon a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in a Television Drama. McMahon was also widely recognised for his role as the villainous Dr Victor Von Doom in the Fantastic Four movies released in 2005 and 2007. These films introduced Marvel's iconic character to a new generation. Though the films received mixed reviews, McMahon's performance left a lasting impression on fans of the superhero genre. He was one of the first actors to bring Doctor Doom to life on the big screen, a role that has since been recast but remains a significant part of his legacy. In recent years, McMahon continued to work steadily. He appeared in the Netflix murder mystery series The Residence , playing the Australian Prime Minister. He also featured in The Supremes at Earl's All-You-Can-Eat , another 2024 release. His dedication to his craft was evident, working up until shortly before his death. Kelly McMahon shared a heartfelt statement: 'Julian loved life. He loved his family, loved his friends. He loved his work, and he loved his fans. His deepest wish was to bring joy into as many lives as possible. We ask for support during this time to allow our family to grieve in privacy. We are grateful for the memories.' She also expressed thanks to those who found joy through Julian's work and presence. Colleagues paid tribute to the actor's talent and kindness. Dylan Walsh, McMahon's co-star in Nip/Tuck , said, 'We rode this wave together and I loved him. My heart goes out to Kelly and Maddy. Jules! I know you'd want me to say something to make you smile — all the inside jokes. We laughed so much. Rest in peace.' Nicolas Cage, who worked with McMahon on The Surfer , called him 'one of my favourite people' and praised his talent and intelligence. Julian McMahon is survived by his wife Kelly and daughter Madison. His legacy will live on through his memorable performances and the joy he brought to fans worldwide. As fans reflect on his life, McMahon's story is a reminder of the power of dedication, passion, and the ability to touch lives through art. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Eyewitness News
18 hours ago
- Eyewitness News
Second accused in Tshwane transformer theft denies involvement, says device was old
JOHANNESBURG - The second accused in the transformer theft denies being involved, saying the device was old and disused. Three City of Tshwane officials were arrested this week in connection with the theft of the R7 million transformer that was taken from a Laudium substation. Thomas Baloyi and his two co-accused appeared in the Atteridgeville Magistrates Court on Friday. READ: Suspect in City of Tshwane transformer theft case plans to plead not guilty Baloyi told the court he could prove he was not involved in the crime and wanted to be released on bail. Advocate Siyabulela Pendani read a statement from his client. "The transformer that is said that I have tampered with is a 1976 transformer, which is disused and was discarded. I will prove to the court that I have never tampered or seek to steal essential infrastructure, and I was on duty on the said day as an employee of the City of Tshwane."
