In 2023, Christian Keyes, an actor who labored for Perry previous to Dixon’s employment, went on Instagram reside detailing his abusive expertise with an nameless “black Hollywood billionaire,” in accordance with The Hollywood Reporter. Dixon believes the billionaire is Perry, however Keyes’ supervisor didn’t reply to request for remark from The Hollywood Reporter.
“This is an individual who got close to Tyler Perry for what now appears to be nothing more than setting up a scam,” lawyer Matthew Boyd stated. “But Tyler will not be shaken down and we are confident these fabricated claims of harassment will fail.”
In keeping with Dixon’s lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court docket, Perry repeatedly invited him to his residence, touched him with out consent, and despatched undesirable sexual messages. Dixon additionally stated he filed a declare with the Equal Employment Alternative Fee in June 2024 earlier than finally leaving “The Oval,” saying he might now not stand up to the alleged harassment.
Dixon, who had carried out and written for Atlanta theater productions, stated that Perry singled him out within the crowd of occasion employees. He requested him if he was an actor.
“I said, ‘Yes, but not really right now,’” Dixon instructed The Hollywood Reporter. “And he said, ‘Yes you are. I can tell.’” On the finish of the occasion, Perry and Dixon exchanged numbers, and Perry started texting Dixon the following day, asking, “So who are you? What’s the dream? What do you want to do?”
Perry provided Dixon the chance to audition for a small half in his collection “Ruthless,” a spin-off of “The Oval.” Perry finally gave Dixon the half, saying that the function might get larger.
At that time, Dixon, who’s an out homosexual man, “did not know that Perry was interested in men or that he was looking for a sexual relationship,” his lawsuit stated. A couple of yr later, in December 2020, Perry introduced on Instagram that he had damaged up along with his longtime girlfriend, Gelila Bekele, with whom he shares a now 10-year-old son, had damaged up.
“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,” Dixon instructed The Hollywood Reporter.
Throughout Dixon’s first alleged encounter with Perry, he stated the producer backed off when he instructed him he wasn’t keen on intercourse. Nevertheless, Perry started to name or textual content Dixon every single day, together with when he instructed Dixon that he wished to broaden his small function in “Ruthless” into a bigger, recurring function on “The Oval.”
When manufacturing of “The Oval” was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Dixon stated Perry inspired him to jot down a script for a comedy pilot. Dixon stated Perry complimented him on the script and even provided to supply a pilot, although he was imprecise on particulars, as he continued to ship textual content messages, complimenting him on his physique or telling him he wanted to “let someone hold you and make love to you.”
There was one other assembly at Perry’s residence in 2021, throughout which Dixon stated the producer once more drank an excessive amount of and allegedly groped Dixon throughout a good-night hug, in accordance with The Hollywood Reporter.
Dixon stated he contacted an lawyer to debate his choices, whereas additionally confiding in a co-worker. The lawyer instructed him he would wish to stop “The Oval” earlier than he might file a grievance whereas his co-worker reminded him that he’d be giving up skilled appearing job.
“All those years of trying to be an actor would just go up in smoke,” Dixon instructed The Hollywood Reporter. “You can’t just go out and easily get another series regular role on a TV show.” Dixon stated he felt too paralyzed to take motion towards Perry: “I was too afraid to come forward. I knew it would be awful. And I was right.”
