Actor Derek Dixon broke his silence after accusing Tyler Perry of sexual assault and harassment in a $260 million lawsuit final month.
“I couldn't simply let him get away with this,” Dixon advised The Hollywood Reporter on Thursday, July 10, in his first interview for the reason that accusations went public. “Everybody deserves to go to work and do their job with out their boss making an attempt to have intercourse with them.”
Dixon stated his “objective” with the swimsuit is to “assist be certain that the subsequent era of actors and creatives don't have to decide on between their goals and their dignity.”
Us Weekly confirmed that Dixon filed a lawsuit in opposition to Perry, 55, and Tyler Perry Studios in Los Angeles on June 13. The actor, who appeared on Perry's BET collection The Oval beginning in 2021, is suing for quid professional quo sexual harassment, sexual battery, sexual assault, intentional infliction of emotional misery and retaliation, amongst different accusations.
Perry was fast to disclaim the accusations in opposition to him.
“That is a person who obtained near Tyler Perry for what now seems to be nothing greater than organising a rip-off,” Perry's legal professional Matthew Boyd shared in an announcement. “However Tyler is not going to be shaken down and we're assured these fabricated claims of harassment will fail.”
Dixon alleged that Perry groped him and snuck into his mattress, amongst different claims. The actor additionally claimed that Perry has a sample of the sort of habits with male workers.
Derek Dixon Courtesy of Derek Dixon/Instagram
Throughout Thursday's interview, Dixon stated he met Perry in September 2019 whereas working in Atlanta. They allegedly exchanged cellphone numbers after Perry inquired if Dixon was an actor. Then, the chance for Dixon to audition for The Oval took place. The primary alleged incident occurred in January 2022 when Dixon stayed in Perry's visitor home.
Perry allegedly “climbed into mattress” with Dixon and began “rubbing” his leg.
Whereas Hollywood might seem like all glitz and glam on the floor, the business has seen its fair proportion of scandals via the years. The New York Instances and the New Yorker first printed investigative items in 2017 that accused disgruntled film producer Harvey Weinstein of many years of sexual assault and harassment. Quickly after, Weinstein stood trial and was […]
“I instantly jumped out of the mattress and stated, ‘I'm not that sexual' and stood up till he left the room,” Dixon advised THR. “I assumed that my response made it clear that night time that I used to be not .”
Perry allegedly continued to textual content Dixon — however the messages remained unanswered.
“I'm not going to talk for him on how he identifies sexually,” Dixon advised THR of his alleged experiences with Perry. “No matter his sexual orientation or gender, he shouldn't be talking to any of his workers whether or not they be males or girls, homosexual, straight or bisexual about their sexual preferences, how usually they're having intercourse and bodily assaulting them.”
Whereas the 2 continued to work collectively, Dixon was underneath the impression that Perry “obtained the image” that nothing sexual would happen between them.
“I now understand I let my gratefulness for what he'd executed for me cloud my self-respect,” Dixon added, noting elsewhere that he was initially “too afraid to come back ahead.”
“I knew it will be terrible. And I used to be proper,” he added. “Because of this folks, particularly males, don't come ahead.”
