Tyler Perry’s accuser Derek Dixon, who is suing the Hollywood mogul for $260 million, claims in a bombshell new interview that he feared the producer’s alleged sexual advances would escalate to rape.
“I told him ‘No,’ ‘Stop,’ and ‘I don’t want this,’” the “Oval” actor claimed to the Hollywood Reporter Thursday, recalling an alleged incident at Perry’s house in June 2021.
“But he wasn’t stopping. He just told me to relax and let it happen and that he wasn’t going to hurt me.”
Dixon claimed he had gone over to the studio head’s home to discuss his “Losing It” pilot. However, the two men began drinking alcohol and then the alleged sexual assault occurred.
“He told me to give him a good night hug and as I did, he abruptly and forcefully pulled down my underwear and groped my bare ass,” Dixon claimed.
“When I tried to pull my underwear back up, he grabbed my wrists to keep me from putting them back on. I couldn’t believe what was happening.”
In an attempt to escape Perry’s alleged behavior, Dixon told the Hollywood Reporter he diverted the conversation by saying he didn’t want to do anything sexual and that he was hungry, which led to them eating a pizza together in the living room.
The “Ruthless” alum alleged to the outlet that once he was back in the guest house, he locked himself in the bathroom and fell asleep on the floor.
The alleged shocking incident was not the first time Dixon claims that Perry assaulted him, though.
As described in his lawsuit, the “Joy Ridge” actor has alleged that the “Madea’s Family Reunion” star first crossed the line at his home in Georgia in January 2020.
“[Perry] climbed into bed with me and began rubbing my thigh. I immediately jumped out of the bed and said, ‘I’m not that sexual,’ and stood up until he left the room. I thought that my reaction made it clear that night that I was not interested,” he claimed.
Dixon also shared in the complaint several texts messages Perry allegedly sent him, in which the “Don’t Look Up” star allegedly made inappropriate comments about his body or make remarks like, “Let someone hold you and make love to you.”
Since speaking out in his lawsuit last month, Dixon said he has received a mix of support and hate.
“This is why people, especially men, don’t come forward,” he told the Hollywood Reporter. “But eventually, I couldn’t stay silent anymore.”
As for Perry’s sexual identity, which the billionaire has not publicly addressed, Dixon added to the outlet, “I’m not going to speak for him on how he identifies sexually.
“Regardless of his sexual orientation or gender, he should not be speaking to any of his employees whether they be men or women, gay, straight, or bisexual about their sexual preferences, how often they’re having sex, and physically assaulting them.”
Perry’s lawyer tells Page Six in response to Dixon’s latest interview, “This is an individual who got close to Tyler Perry for what now appears to be nothing more than setting up a scam. But Tyler will not be shaken down and we are confident these fabricated claims of harassment will fail.”
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-330-0226.