June 18 (UPI) -- Filmmaker Tyler Perry denies claims that he sexually assaulted an actor who worked on his television shows The Oval and Ruthless.
Derek Dixon's $260 million lawsuit asserts that the Madea star escalated "sexual harassment, assault and battery and professional retaliation when Mr. Dixon did not reciprocate Mr. Perry's unwanted advances."
The lawsuit, filed Friday, alleges that "strange and untowardly" text messages began after the pair met in 2019, and that Dixon was assaulted in January 2020 before eventually being offered a part in The Oval.
"Dixon immediately understood that his job security depended on his 'relationship' with Perry. 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," the lawsuit alleges, as reported by Good Morning America.
The actor claims that his stress was so severe he was prescribed an antidepressant, and ultimately moved to Santa Monica, Calif.
