Tyler Perry fires back at accuser who he says ‘needs help’

Tyler Perry is speaking out against allegations of sexual assault and harassment by a former male employee, issuing a sharp legal response accusing the man of spreading false claims and saying he “needs help.”

In an Oct. 1 filing with the U.S. District Court for the Central Division of California, Perry’s legal team called the $260 million lawsuit filed by Derek Dixon is ‘very disappointing, cynical and, above all, false’ People reported. Dixon’s claims of sexual harassment, assault and retaliation would distort “acts of platonic friendship and professional mentorship” into something “sinister,” Perry’s attorneys wrote, arguing that the lawsuit relies on “Hollywood stereotypes and the evil actions of others.”

“Dixon fabricates alleged attacks and encounters that never happened,” Perry’s filing said.

“Mr. Perry never assaulted or sexually assaulted Dixon. He did not offer Dixon a raise or record the script of Dixon’s television pilot to threaten, coerce or control Dixon,” the filing adds.

Perry’s filing comes in response to Dixon’s massive $260 million lawsuit against him and Tyler Perry Studios, which alleges Perry tried to sexually exploit their professional relationship while Dixon appeared on The oval And Merciless. Perry claims he is the real victim and accuses the former employee of trying to use his generosity for a huge payday.

“And it is notable that in his attempt to exploit his friendship and professional relationship with Mr. Perry to get a $260 million payday, Dixon was forced to lie not only about Mr. Perry, but about himself,” Perry’s filing said.

It then goes on to identify “Dixon’s greed and avarice” as the problem and “not Mr. Perry’s alleged and non-existent harassment or abuse.”

The Why did I get married? star and filmmaker “looks forward to refuting any false accusations in court.”

“Because of his actions and false accusations, it is clear that Dixon needs help. But he cannot find it in this court,” the filing alleges. “Although Dixon claims he was the victim of escalating sexual misconduct, he had no problem starring in Season 2 of Mr. Perry’s television series The Oval.”

Perry’s team points out several problems with Dixon’s lawsuit, including that it was filed in the wrong state; Georgia, where the productions were filmed, would have been the correct location. Perry also states that Dixon’s claims are not actually about his actions, but rather stem from Perry’s inability to sell Dixon’s TV pilot to Netflix. They also question why Dixon continued to work with him if the alleged assault and harassment had actually occurred.

However, Dixon stands by his claims. His legal team responded to Perry’s filing, pointing to alleged text messages in which Perry allegedly made sexually suggestive comments to Dixon on multiple occasions.

“Perry’s record provides no evidence that the text messages in our complaint were fabricated,” Dixon’s attorney, Jonathan J. Delshad, said in a statement. “Our complaint includes text messages in which Mr. Perry made explicit sexual comments to Mr. Dixon, questioned him about his sex life, and dangled professional opportunities based on those interactions.”

“No employer has the right to manipulate or threaten an employee’s livelihood based on sexual expectations,” Delshad said. “We are confident we can prove to a jury that sexual harassment, assault and assault absolutely occurred.”

“I am confident that Mr. Dixon is not alone and that soon others will share stories about Mr. Perry,” Delshad continued. “My client is not intimidated by wealth, influence or Mr. Perry’s celebrity status. No one is above the law. We seek to hold Mr. Perry accountable to the full extent of the law.”

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