Tyler Perry is denying allegations lodged against him in a $260 million sexual assault lawsuit.

On Friday (June 13), Derek Dixon, who plays Dale in Perry's show The Oval, filed a lawsuit against the filmmaker, alleging "a sustained pattern of workplace sexual harassment, assault, and retaliation," per ABC News. The lawsuit adds that Perry promised Dixon "career advancement and creative opportunities," 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."

The two initially met in 2019 while Dixon was working for an event company that was hired to plan a party for Tyler Perry Studios, according to the lawsuit. Dixon was allegedly assigned a role at the party that "required frequent conversation with Tyler Perry." The lawsuit states that the two exchanged phone numbers at the end of the event, and Perry began asking Dixon, who was aspiring to be an actor, about his goals.

According to the lawsuit, Perry cast Dixon on his show Ruthless and started sending him "strange and untowardly" messages.

The lawsuit claims that Perry invited Dixon to his home in January 2020. That night, the two drank alcohol, and the Madea creator later assaulted him, according to the suit.

Following the assault, Dixon attempted to ignore Perry's messages until "Perry offered Dixon a part in a new show called 'The Oval,'" per the suit. Dixon allegedly "put up" with Perry's comments out of fear of his role being cut.

"Dixon immediately understood that his job security depended on his 'relationship' with Perry," the lawsuit states. "From this point on, Dixon worked with the constant fear of losing his job if he did not engage with and endure Perry's sexual harassment."

At one point during his time on the show, Perry invited Dixon for drinks in his trailer, where he again allegedly assaulted the actor.

"As soon as Derek Dixon left the trailer following Perry's violent assault, Dixon became severely nauseous and extremely anxious about his job, careers, and livelihood," the lawsuit states.

According to the lawsuit, sexual harassment continued through the beginning of 2021. In June 2021, Dixon alleges he was invited by Perry to his house to discuss a pilot for a show, when he was sexually assaulted again. Dixon further claimed that the media mogul dangled the promise of producing a show he was making to prevent him "from exposing the dark side of Tyler Perry."

In the wake of the lawsuit, Perry's attorney, Matthew Boyd, released a statement, denying the allegations against his client. "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."

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Joe Soto

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