Tyler Perry has broken his silence on The Oval actor Derek Dixon’s $260 million civil lawsuit accusing the media mogul of sexual assault and workplace harassment.
Perry’s legal team filed a motion in response to the complaint on Oct. 1, in the U.S. District Court’s Central Division of California.
Us Weekly recently obtained a copy of the filing, which called Dixon’s allegations “profoundly disappointing, cynical and — most of all — false.”
“Mr. Perry never assaulted Dixon or committed any sexual battery. He did not offer Dixon pay raises and shoot Dixon’s television pilot script to threaten, coerce, or control Dixon,” the motion stated.
The Madea’s Destination Wedding star additionally claimed Dixon’s lawsuit relies “on Hollywood stereotypes and the bad acts of others,” adding that Dixon, “distorts and tries to turn sinister Mr. Perry’s acts of platonic friendship and professional mentorship.”
Related: Tyler Perry Accuser Derek Dixon Says He Refuses to ‘Stay Silent’
Dixon filed his 46-page complaint in Los Angeles on June 13, after making a harassment complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency that investigates workplace discrimination.
In his lawsuit, Dixon alleged quid pro quo sexual harassment, sexual battery, sexual assault, workplace harassment and other claims.
The suit included text messages purportedly exchanged between the two, and accused Perry of “using his power and influence to molest, abuse, and sexually assault impressionable and vulnerable employees and actors who look to him for guidance and mentorship while pursuing their dreams.”
In their Oct. 1 response, Perry’s attorneys alleged that Dixon became disgruntled and filed a lawsuit because the mogul was unable to sell Dixon’s TV pilot to Netflix, where Perry has a production deal. Perry’s team went on to say Dixon destroyed his “friendship” with Perry by seeking a multi-million dollar payday.
“And it is notable that in his effort to exploit his friendship and professional relationship with Mr. Perry to obtain a $260 million payday, Dixon was forced to lie not only about Mr. Perry, but himself too,” the motion said.
The filing questioned Dixon’s mental health.
“By his actions and false accusations, it is clear that Dixon needs help. But he cannot find it in this Court,” the motion said.
Additionally, Perry’s team argued that Dixon filed his lawsuit in the wrong state. Instead of California, where Dixon lives, the motion said the suit should have been filed in Georgia, where the actor worked for Perry.
Related: Actor Christian Keyes Says He Was Sexually Harassed by ‘Billionaire’ Hollywood Mogul
Dixon’s attorney Jonathan Delshad responded to Perry’s motion by saying the actor’s lawsuit included evidence of alleged harassment.
“Our complaint, includes text messages where Mr. Perry made explicit sexual remarks to Mr. Dixon, questioned him about his sex life, and dangled professional opportunities based on those interactions. That is the definition of harassment and coercion, and it’s illegal. Notably missing from their filed papers is any refutation of the authenticity of these text messages, because Perry knows they are real,” Delshad stated.
He continued, “No employer has the right to manipulate or threaten an employee’s livelihood based on sexual expectations. That’s exactly why sexual harassment laws exist—to protect all of us from abuse of power in the workplace, especially when the person abusing such power is rich, has media influence, and is used to getting away with abusing his power.”
Dixon said in his complaint that he met Perry in 2019, while the then-aspiring actor worked for an event company hired for the opening party at Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta.
The suit said Perry asked the actor about his goals, and the two exchanged phone numbers at the end of the event.
Shortly after the event, the lawsuit said Perry sent Dixon text messages on Nov. 3, 2019, saying he would “love” to find him a job and “change his life.”
The lawsuit stated that Perry cast Dixon in his BET+ series Ruthless and later on the spinoff, The Oval. According to his IMDb page, Dixon appeared on 2 episodes of Ruthless before he was cast in a recurring role on The Oval.
But the suit said instead of behaving professionally, Perry began to send Dixon “strange and untowardly” messages.
“On New Years Eve, 2019, Tyler Perry texted Dixon: ‘I can’t tell you the last time I pumped gas. Or went to the supermarket. Or flew commercial. Or packed a bag. Or had good sex. It was before I was rich,’” the lawsuit stated.
The suit said in January 2020, Perry invited Dixon to his home in Douglasville County, Georgia, where they drank alcoholic beverages.
“At the end of the night, Perry told Dixon not to drive home. Perry said it was dangerous and that Dixon was too ‘inebriated’ to drive home. Dixon agreed and was escorted to a separate guest room,” the complaint said.
The lawsuit alleged Perry sexually assaulted the actor that night.
“Dixon felt someone else slip into bed behind him and start rubbing Dixon’s body around his inner thigh in a highly sexual and suggestive manner. Dixon turned around and saw that Tyler Perry was in bed with him,” the lawsuit said.
Last month, Dixon sat down for an interview with ABC News and said he wants Perry to take “accountability.”
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