Perry’s legal camp is pushing back hard, dismissing the suit as baseless and financially motivated.

Perry’s attorney, Matthew Boyd, did not mince words: “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.”

The lawsuit was filed on Friday, June 13, by actor Derek Dixon, best known for playing Dale in Perry’s political drama The Oval. Dixon is accusing Perry of “a sustained pattern of workplace sexual harassment, assault, and retaliation,” and is suing the media mogul for alleged quid pro quo harassment, a hostile work environment, and sexual assault and battery.

According to court documents, Dixon and Perry’s paths first crossed in 2019 during the grand opening of Tyler Perry Studios, where Dixon worked as part of an event planning team. Dixon claims that his role at the event required frequent interactions with Perry, who, at the end of the evening, allegedly asked for his phone number and began inquiring about his career ambitions.

For now, Tyler Perry has not personally addressed the allegations in detail, but his team is signaling a clear intention to fight back.

“This is an individual who got close to Tyler Perry for what now appears to be nothing more than setting up a scam,” Boyd reiterated. “But Tyler will not be shaken down, and we are confident these fabricated claims of harassment will fail.”

As the case develops, both legal teams will likely prepare for a drawn-out legal battle, one with serious implications for one of Hollywood’s most powerful figures.