Latest news with #LosingIt
Black America Web
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Black America Web
‘The Oval' Actor Sues Tyler Perry For Alleged Sexual Assault And Battery
Source: Robin L Marshall / Getty An actor on The Oval , one of writer, director, and producer Tyler Perry's many television shows, has filed a lawsuit accusing Perry of sexually harassing him during production and using his leverage as a producer to silence him. According to AP News, actor Derek Dixon filed the lawsuit last Friday in the Los Angeles Superior Court and is seeking at least $260 million in damages. Dixon says he initially met Tyler Perry while working as event staff for one of the producer's parties. Perry took notice of Dixon and told him to audition for one of his productions. Dixon initially started working for Tyler Perry with a bit part in Ruthless , before being offered a more prominent role in The Oval . Dixon alleges that as his roles became more prominent in Tyler Perry's productions, Perry's sexual advances became more and more aggressive. 'Mr. Perry took his success and power and used his considerable influence in the entertainment industry to create a coercive, sexually exploitative dynamic with Mr. Dixon — initially promising him career advancement and creative opportunities, such as producing his pilot and casting him in his show, only to subject him to escalating sexual harassment, assault and battery, and professional retaliation,' the lawsuit says. The lawsuit includes screenshots of several text messages that Dixon alleges were sent by Perry. 'What's it going to take for you to have guiltless sex?' one of the messages says. Another series of text messages shows Perry allegedly expressing jealousy over seeing a picture of Dixon with another man. Dixon says he tried to rebuff the alleged advances while staying friendly with Perry, as it was implied his character would be killed off if he outright ignored them. 'Dixon did his best to tiptoe around Mr. Perry's sexual aggression while keeping on Mr. Perry's good side,' the lawsuit says. '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.'' The lawsuit includes screenshots of text messages allegedly from Tyler Perry implying that he used the threat of killing off a character as a way to keep actors in line. 'I swear to you, I KNOW HOW TO FIX THIS SH*T,' the text reads. 'I love killing a m*ther f*cker in a show that no one expects.' From AP News: The lawsuit says Perry eventually sexually assaulted Dixon on 'multiple occasions,' including an instance where he 'forcibly pulled off Mr. Dixon's clothing, groped his buttocks, and attempted to force himself on Dixon.' Dixon clearly told Perry 'No,' but was initially ignored until he was able to de-escalate the situation and change the subject, according to the lawsuit. The following day, Perry apologized, and told Dixon he would work with Dixon on a TV pilot Dixon was seeking to produce. The pilot, entitled 'Losing It,' was never sold, and Dixon believes it was only produced as a way to keep him silent about the alleged harassment. Dixon says he moved from Atlanta to Los Angeles as a way to put distance between himself and Tyler Perry, but he alleges that the harassment continued through text messages. He filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in 2024, and when that didn't result in any steps being taken by the show's producers, he quit. For his part, Tyler Perry has denied the allegations. 'This is an individual who got close to Tyler Perry for what now appears to be nothing more than setting up a scam,' Perry's attorney Matthew Boyd said in a statement Tuesday. 'But Tyler will not be shaken down, and we are confident these fabricated claims of harassment will fail.' Tyler Perry and BET, the network that produces The Oval , reached a new multi-year deal last year. BET has not commented on the allegations against Perry, and it's unclear how, if at all, this will affect the several shows he currently has in production at the network. SEE ALSO: Tyler Perry, Terri Vaughn Sued Over 'She The People' Netflix Series LA Fires: Tyler Perry Rips Insurance Companies SEE ALSO 'The Oval' Actor Sues Tyler Perry For Alleged Sexual Assault And Battery was originally published on Black America Web Featured Video CLOSE
See - Sada Elbalad
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- See - Sada Elbalad
Tyler Perry Accused of Sexual Assault in $260 Million Lawsuit
Yara Sameh US film and TV giant Tyler Perry is being sued for alleged sexual assault, battery, and workplace sexual harassment by an actor who worked with Perry for years. According to the complaint, Derek Dixon accused Perry of creating "a coercive, sexually exploitative dynamic" between them while he was starring on the filmmaker's shows "The Oval" and "Ruthless", on which Dixon starred as a character named Dale. The complaint accused Perry of "initially promising him career advancement and creative opportunities, such as producing his pilot and casting him in his show, only to subject him to escalating sexual harassment, assault and battery, and professional retaliation when Mr. Dixon did not reciprocate Mr. Perry's unwanted advances." In response, Matthew Boyd, Perry's lawyer, said the lawsuit is a 'shakedown.' 'This is an individual who got close to Tyler Perry for what now appears to be nothing more than setting up a scam,' he said. 'But Tyler will not be shaken down and we are confident these fabricated claims of harassment will fail.' Dixon claimed he met Perry in September 2019 when working the opening party for Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta, Georgia. Dixon alleged that, over the next few months, Perry often texted him, sometimes with suggestive advances, but also that he wanted to find Dixon a job and change his life. In November 2019, Dixon claimed Perry offered him a small role on "Ruthless". Dixon claimed that Perry sexually assaulted him at Perry's home in January 2020, and the next month, he offered Dixon a series regular role on "The Oval", the complaint states. The actor alleged that upon reading the script for his first season, he discovered his character's fate was left up in the air in the finale. "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 complaint alleged. "Indeed, Dixon's character 'Dale' was shot four times in the chest at the end of his first season on 'The Oval,' and Perry always held this over Mr. Dixon's head, implying that 'Dale' would survive if Dixon kept Perry 'happy.'" Dixon recounted a moment after filming the scene in which his character was shot, Perry invited him to his trailer, where he allegedly pinned him to the wall of his trailer and began aggressively groping Dixon's backside in a sexual motion. In the complaint, The actor claimed he was similarly groped during a cast trip to the Bahamas in October 2020. Dixon alleged that in December 2020 he visited a physician who indicated that Dixon's "exhibited severe symptoms of acute stress, insomnia, stomach issues, and dangerously low cortisol levels due to the sexual harassment and assault" and prescribed him Zoloft, an antidepressant. Dixon claimed Perry invited him to his house again in June 2021 to discuss Dixon's pilot for his show "Losing It", which Perry had expressed interest in producing. He alleged he was again sexually assaulted by Perry at this meeting. Over the next five months, Dixon said he "suffered from severe depression, anxiety, stomach pains, and nausea" and was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following the alleged incidents. Dixon claimed that Perry's "fixers" offered him a raise to return to "The Oval" and that Perry would buy the right to produce his show, "Losing It". Dixon informed Perry in January 2023 that he was moving to California to "put some distance" between them. Dixon continued to star on "The Oval" but left during the show's final season, a move he claimed resulted in him losing out on close to $400,000. According to the complaint, the actor is suing Perry for sexual harassment, sexual battery, sexual assault, intentional infliction of emotional distress, retaliation, and more. He is requesting a jury trial and for damages of $260 million. read more New Tourism Route To Launch in Old Cairo Ahmed El Sakka-Led Play 'Sayidati Al Jamila' to Be Staged in KSA on Dec. 6 Mandy Moore Joins Season 2 of "Dr. Death" Anthology Series Don't Miss These Movies at 44th Cairo Int'l Film Festival Today Amr Diab to Headline KSA's MDLBEAST Soundstorm 2022 Festival Arts & Culture Mai Omar Stuns in Latest Instagram Photos Arts & Culture "The Flash" to End with Season 9 Arts & Culture Ministry of Culture Organizes four day Children's Film Festival Arts & Culture Canadian PM wishes Muslims Eid-al-Adha News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Lifestyle Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt Business Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War Arts & Culture Zahi Hawass: Claims of Columns Beneath the Pyramid of Khafre Are Lies News Flights suspended at Port Sudan Airport after Drone Attacks Videos & Features Video: Trending Lifestyle TikToker Valeria Márquez Shot Dead during Live Stream News Shell Unveils Cost-Cutting, LNG Growth Plan Technology 50-Year Soviet Spacecraft 'Kosmos 482' Crashes into Indian Ocean News 3 Killed in Shooting Attack in Thailand
Economic Times
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Economic Times
From explicit messages to groping: What we know about Derek Dixon's sexual harassment lawsuit against Tyler Perry
AP Filmmaker Tyler Perry has been sued by actor Derek Dixon accusing him of sexual harassment. Actor and screenwriter Derek Dixon has filed a $260 million sexual harassment lawsuit against filmmaker Tyler Perry in Los Angeles County Superior Court, alleging a series of unwanted advances, groping incidents, and an alleged attempt by Perry to use professional opportunities to conceal sexual misconduct. The claims span from 2019 to 2021 and include allegations of sexually explicit messages, coercive behavior, and inappropriate physical contact. Perry's legal team has denied the accusations, calling the lawsuit a 'scam' aimed at financial gain. In the 46-page complaint, Dixon paints Perry as someone who allegedly believed his power and success could entitle him to whatever he desired — including a secret sexual relationship. 'Mr. Perry sought the one thing his wealth and influence could not purchase — a sexual relationship with a man who would remain silent,' the suit states. According to the filing, Perry offered Dixon his first acting job in 2019 while Dixon was working at an events company. Later that year, Perry allegedly invited him to his Georgia home, served him drinks, and encouraged him to stay overnight. That evening, Perry reportedly entered Dixon's guest room and began groping him, despite Dixon making it clear he wasn't interested. The lawsuit claims Perry continued sending sexually explicit texts and became more aggressive when Dixon ignored him. After Dixon joined the cast of Perry's BET series The Oval , the alleged harassment intensified. The suit accuses Perry of frequently calling or texting him, referring to him as a personal "pet," and making lewd remarks about his sex life. Dixon's character was initially written to be killed off at the end of the season, but Perry allegedly hinted that his fate could change depending on how he handled their 'relationship.' The suit claims Perry warned Dixon not to speak about their interactions with anyone on set. Among the most serious allegations are two groping incidents in 2020, including one during a cast trip to the Bahamas, and a 2021 encounter at Perry's home in which he allegedly assaulted Dixon while he was naked. Following that alleged incident, one of Perry's lawyers reportedly praised Dixon's performance on The Oval , saying 'Christmas came early,' and he was later given a raise. The lawsuit also claims Perry bought the rights to Dixon's script Losing It as a form of leverage, with no intention of actually producing it. The show was filmed but never developed further. Perry allegedly used the project to manipulate Dixon, holding it over his head like 'the sword of Damocles.' Eventually, Perry offered Dixon a writing role, which Dixon declined. He later filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), though its status remains unclear. In response, Perry's lawyer dismissed the claims as a baseless extortion attempt, saying: 'Tyler will not be shaken down and we are confident these fabricated claims of harassment will fail.'
Arab Times
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Arab Times
Tyler Perry sued by actor on 'The Oval' for harassment
LOS ANGELES, June 18, (AP): An actor who worked on the Tyler Perry-created TV drama "The Oval' has filed a lawsuit alleging Perry leveraged his industry power to repeatedly sexually assault and harass him while keeping him quiet. The lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court by actor Derek Dixon, who appeared on 85 episodes of the BET series, seeks at least $260 million in damages. "Mr. Perry took his success and power and used his considerable influence in the entertainment industry to create a coercive, sexually exploitative dynamic with Mr. Dixon - initially promising him career advancement and creative opportunities, such as producing his pilot and casting him in his show, only to subject him to escalating sexual harassment, assault and battery, and professional retaliation,' the lawsuit says. The lawsuit was filed Friday and first reported Tuesday by TMZ. Perry's attorney, Matthew Boyd, said its allegations are false. "This is an individual who got close to Tyler Perry for what now appears to be nothing more than setting up a scam,' Boyd said in a statement Tuesday. "But Tyler will not be shaken down, and we are confident these fabricated claims of harassment will fail.' The lawsuit says that Perry first noticed Dixon in 2019 when Dixon was part of the event staff at a Perry party, and later offered an audition. Dixon would first appear in a small role on the Perry series "Ruthless" before getting the bigger role on the political drama "The Oval.' Perry soon began sending unwanted sexual text messages to Dixon, according to the lawsuit, which includes screenshots of several of them. "What's it going to take for you to have guiltless sex?' one of the messages says. The lawsuit says Perry offered Dixon an increasingly prominent role on the show as his sexual advances became more aggressive. The actor says he tried to remain friendly while maintaining boundaries. "Dixon did his best to tiptoe around Mr. Perry's sexual aggression while keeping on Mr. Perry's good side,' the lawsuit says. "Mr. Perry made it clear to Dixon that if Dixon ignored Perry or failed to engage with the sexual innuendoes, Dixon's character would 'die.'' The lawsuit says Perry eventually sexually assaulted Dixon on "multiple occasions," including an instance where he "forcibly pulled off Mr. Dixon's clothing, groped his buttocks, and attempted to force himself on Dixon." Dixon clearly told Perry "No,' but was initially ignored until he was able to de-escalate the situation and change the subject, according to the lawsuit. The following day, Perry apologized, and told Dixon he would work with Dixon on a TV pilot Dixon was seeking to produce. Dixon later received a raise that the lawsuit suggests was part of an attempt to keep him quiet. He said the fear of his character dying kept him quiet as intended. Perry also produced and bought the rights to the pilot, called "Losing It,' but the lawsuit alleges Perry had no intention of selling the show and was using it only for leverage over Dixon. The lawsuit describes several other assaults, including one where Dixon was staying in a guest room of Perry's house when Perry climbed into bed with him uninvited and began groping him, the lawsuit alleges. Dixon would eventually move from Atlanta, home to Perry's production studio, to Los Angeles to put distance between the two of them. Dixon in 2024 filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and when that didn't result in any action from the show's producers, he quit. The Associated Press does not typically name people who say they have been sexually abused unless they come forward publicly as Dixon has. "The Oval' is one of many television series executive produced by, written by, and directed by the 55-year-old Perry, who first became known as creator and star of the "Madea' films and has since built a major production empire in TV and movies. As an actor he has also appeared in the films "Gone Girl' and "Don't Look Up.'
Mint
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
Tyler Perry accused of alleged sexual harassment and assault by actor Derek Dixon
Washington DC [US], June 18 (ANI): American actor and filmmaker Tyler Perry has been accused of alleged sexual harassment and assault by artist Derek Dixon, who appeared on Perry's BET show The Oval, reported Variety. As per the outlet, Derek Dixon, who appeared in 85 episodes of the show, alleges in the suit that Perry abused his power in the industry to sexually exploit him. The complaint states that in June 2021, while staying at Perry's guesthouse, Perry, allegedly intoxicated, groped Dixon's buttocks. The suit also quotes from text messages, alleging that Perry made numerous sexual remarks and propositions over several years, reported Deadline. The lawsuit seeks at least 260 million USD in punitive damages. Responding to the allegations, Perry's attorney Matthew Boyd dismissed the suit as a "shakedown," reported Variety. "This is an individual who got close to Tyler Perry for what now appears to be nothing more than setting up a scam," Matthew Boyd said. "But Tyler will not be shaken down, and we are confident these fabricated claims of harassment will fail," reported Variety. According to the complaint, Dixon was working for an event company in 2019 when he met Perry at a party for the mogul's Atlanta studio. The suit alleges that Perry took an interest in Dixon, phoning him and eventually offering him the role of Dale on "Restless." Dixon alleges that Perry hired him for additional parties and invited him to his home, where Dixon had several drinks. According to the suit, Perry insisted that he was too drunk to drive home and offered him a guest room. The suit alleges that Perry climbed into bed with Dixon, prompting Dixon to jump out of bed. "Dixon kept informing Perry that he was not into sex in order to keep Perry at bay while at the same time not insulting the person who was dangling his career in front of him," the lawsuit states. According to the complaint, Perry did not take no for an answer, following up with suggestive text messages and other comments. Soon afterwards, Dixon was cast on "The Oval," reported Deadline According to the complaint, Dixon feared that if he did not accede, Perry would kill off his character and destroy his career. According to the complaint, Dixon also wrote a script for a show, "Losing It," and Perry promised to produce the pilot. The suit alleges that Dixon went to Perry's house in June 2021 to discuss the show - but that Perry then took advantage of the situation and tried to sexually assault him in the guest house. The suit states claims of sexual harassment, assault, infliction of emotional distress and retaliation, reported Deadline. (ANI)
