TMZ is under fire for posting an old video that shows media magnate Tyler Perry urging his fans to stay safe and remain calm during the Covid lockdowns in March 2020.
On Wednesday, TMZ titled the article: “Tyler Perry Tells Fans to Stay Calm in Video Released Hours Before Lawsuit News Broke.”
The lawsuit was filed by Derek Dixon, a former actor on Perry’s TV drama series “The Oval.” Dixon claimed Perry sexually harassed him between 2019 and 2024.
Apparently, Perry’s reps contacted TMZ and informed them that the video is old.
Media mogul, actor, filmmaker, playwright, and God fearing Christian pastor, Tyler Perry — is letting it be known that no weapon formed against him will prosper ? pic.twitter.com/4CAZFwTeJ7
— HarrietEve9 (@HarrietEve9) June 18, 2025
Dixon claims he was constantly harassed for sex by his former employer. He said when he resisted, Perry threatened to kill off his character, Dale, on “The Oval.” Dixon would have faced a financial loss of $400,000.
According to court documents, Dixon said the harassment began soon after he met Perry at his studio launch party in 2019. The two men exchanged phone numbers at the party and Perry called Dixon later that night to introduce himself.
The lawsuit news swept the Internet like a firestorm this week. Perry’s fans were in shock and denial. They refuse to believe that Perry harassed his former employee.
In multiple text messages, Perry asked Dixon about his sex life and whether he was intimate with anyone. In another text message, Perry told Dixon he wanted to have sex with him.
Human Resources experts say sexual conversations between an employer and an employee is inappropriate and should be avoided.
Perry, 55, has not yet responded publicly to the scandalous allegations.
However, Perry’s attorney, Matthew Boyd, denied the accusations.
“This is an individual who got close to Tyler Perry for what now appears to be nothing more than setting up a scam. Tyler will not be shaken down, and we are confident these fabricated claims of harassment will fail,” he said.
Perry is set to release his new movie, Madea’s Destination Wedding on July 11.
