CW: The next article consists of discussions of sexual harassment and assault.
Over 20 years into his profession, Tyler Perry is as prolific as ever. Final week noticed the discharge of Madea’s Vacation spot Wedding ceremony, the thirteenth installment within the Madea Cinematic Universe, and regardless of the standard damaging critiques from critics, it debuted atop the Netflix charts. Whether or not you like Tyler Perry’s movies or abhor them, there’s no denying that there’s nonetheless an enormous viewers for them.
The story focuses totally on Madea’s nephew, Brian, who’s shocked to study that his daughter acquired engaged to a rapper she had simply met, and that their marriage ceremony is in two weeks. This results in a household trip to the Bahamas, the place Madea stirs up her signature model of chaos. But this Madea installment comes with extra high-profile controversy than standard, as final month, Tyler Perry was sued for alleged sexual harassment and assault by certainly one of his former actors.
What Has Derek Dixon Mentioned About Tyler Perry?
Final month’s bombshell lawsuit was filed by Derek Dixon, an actor who starred on Tyler Perry’s long-running BET sequence, The Oval, from 2021 to 2025. As Dixon acknowledged, the 2 met at an occasion in September 2019, shortly after which Perry supplied him a component in his upcoming present, Ruthless, a spin-off of The Oval. A number of months later, Perry invited Dixon to his house, the place they drank closely.
As Dixon went to sleep within the visitor home, he alleged that Perry climbed into mattress with him and began rubbing his thigh. Dixon, a homosexual man, rebuffed him, however Perry continued to textual content him within the days after, in the end providing to increase his Ruthless character right into a recurring function on The Oval. Understanding this might enhance his profession, Dixon accepted, believing that he’d made it clear to Perry after the visitor home encounter that their relationship wouldn’t be sexual. However Perry continued to ship him sexually specific texts, at one level outright asking Dixon if he was drawn to him.
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Their encounters additionally acquired more and more aggressive. Later in 2020, Perry invited Dixon to Atlanta, the place he requested him if he “likes it tough in mattress,” earlier than grabbing his throat and claiming, “Look how excited you simply acquired.” Issues acquired even worse in June 2021, when Perry invited Dixon to his house, ostensibly to offer him recommendation on a possible comedy pilot that Dixon had written.
The 2 of them acquired drunk, and as Dixon undressed and ready to go to mattress, Perry got here in to offer him a hug earlier than knocking down his underwear and grabbing his butt, telling him to “loosen up and simply let it occur.” Dixon, in an try to de-escalate the state of affairs, informed Perry that he was hungry, which lastly acquired him to go away the room.
Has Dixon’s Lawsuit Affected Tyler Perry’s New Film, and Ought to It?
In 2024, Dixon lastly had sufficient, and he filed a sexual harassment criticism in opposition to Perry with the Equal Employment Alternative Fee. When producers on The Oval didn’t take motion, Dixon promptly turned down a $400,000 paycheck and give up the present. This led to the larger lawsuit from final month, which Dixon filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court docket, and during which he acknowledged that his experiences had been solely a part of a much bigger sample from Perry.
In his assertion, Dixon asserted that Perry has “been utilizing his energy and affect to molest, abuse, and sexually assault impressionable and susceptible staff and actors who look to him for steerage and mentorship whereas pursuing their desires.” He additionally requested a trial by jury and for Perry to pay $260 million in damages. In a latest interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Dixon admitted that he struggled with the choice to make his experiences public, however he in the end determined, “My purpose is to assist make sure that the subsequent technology of actors and creatives haven’t got to decide on between their desires and their dignity.”
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As anticipated, Tyler Perry has vehemently denied the allegations. His lawyer, Matthew Boyd, has acknowledged: “That is a person who acquired near Tyler Perry for what now seems to be nothing greater than establishing a rip-off. However Tyler won’t be shaken down, and we’re assured these fabricated claims of harassment will fail.” And the lawsuit hasn’t stopped Madea’s Vacation spot Wedding ceremony or final month’s Straw from dominating the Netflix charts, in a miserable illustration of how the #MeToo motion appears to have fizzled out over the previous few years.
But Dixon stands by his choice to talk out. Though he’s admitted to receiving demise threats, he’s additionally claimed to have spoken with others who’ve had related experiences with Perry, hinting: “For this reason folks, particularly males, don’t come ahead.” And whereas Madea continues to attract an enormous viewers amongst Netflix viewers, even with the latest controversy, it’s arduous to not really feel that we must always lastly step away from one of many longest-running franchises in latest reminiscence and begin listening to Derek Dixon.
Madea’s Vacation spot Wedding ceremony is on the market to stream on Netflix.
Be aware: In case you or somebody has been sexually assaulted, please contact the Nationwide Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org.