Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have reportedly distanced themselves from media magnate Tyler Perry after a former employee sued him for workplace harassment.
Aspiring actor Derek Dixon sued Tyler for $260 million, alleging sexual harassment and assault in the workplace. The complaint, which was filed in California on June 13, accused the filmmaker of creating “a coercive, sexually exploitative dynamic” environment while working on Tyler’s TV series “The Oval” and “Ruthless.”
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Derek Dixon said when he resisted Tyler’s unwanted advances, Tyler threatened to kill off his character on “The Oval” at the end of the season.
The lawsuit included dozens of text messages exchanged between the two men over the years.
Highlights from Tyler Perry’s text messages to Derek Dixon:
1. “No Straight man would be going on walks with you or cooking dinner for you unless they wanted to f*** you. I would f*** you.”
2. “You home? I don’t want you out with your ‘friends’. Drinking.”
3. “You are the rose. But you are so blocked [sexually] that you refuse to be smelt or opened.”
4. “…when you finally are able to unlock your mind, you’re going to make that person crazy. Crazy in a good way.”
5. “Have you been intimate with someone?”
6. “Why did that photo [of Dixon and a male cast member] make me jealous. You two together.”
Tyler has not publicly responded to the accusations. But his lawyer called the allegations “false” and a “shakedown”.
Tyler, 55, is godfather to Harry and Meghan’s daughter, Princess Lilibet of Sussex. The filmmaker loaned Harry and Meghan his $18 million mansion in California after they stepped back from their royal duties in London and defected to the U.S. in 2020.
In June 2020, the couple bought a house in Montecito, California and moved out of Tyler’s home.
BACKGRID
Tyler said he first got acquainted with Meghan, 43, after he sent her a letter before her 2018 royal wedding. Tyler told the former “Suits” actress he was praying for her amid the “hurtful” comments made by her father, former Hollywood lighting director Thomas Markle.
“I couldn’t even imagine this woman finding the man that she loved, the man of her dreams, and him being a prince, and then to walk into all of that madness and need the security of family and then have your father do some horrible things,” Tyler said. “When my life changed and success started to come, family members became different people, and I know how hurtful and horrible it can be,” he added.
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Critics of the royal family lashed out at Meghan and Harry for maintaining their silence over Tyler’s sexual harassment scandal.
“Instead of offering their stalwart support as good friends would who even lived in his home, this silence is a clear demonstration of… a total lack of moral courage,” British royals expert Hilary Fordwich told Fox News Digital.
“Their silence to avoid entanglement in a scandal, especially given their precarious standing in both Hollywood and royal circles, won’t look good in the long run,” Fordwich added.
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She said Harry and Meghan are in a “lose-lose situation” because keeping their distance from Tyler has backfired.
“Harry and Meghan are in a lose-lose situation. Keeping their distance has backfired either way. If Tyler Perry is exonerated, their lack of support will be seen as a betrayal, further damaging their credibility among friends and potential allies alike. If allegations against Tyler Perry are proven, distancing themselves to protect their brand will still appear opportunistic and ungrateful,” Fordwich said.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have reportedly distanced themselves from media magnate Tyler Perry after a former employee sued him for workplace harassment.
Aspiring actor Derek Dixon sued Tyler for $260 million, alleging sexual harassment and assault in the workplace. The complaint, which was filed in California on June 13, accused the filmmaker of creating “a coercive, sexually exploitative dynamic” environment while working on Tyler’s TV series “The Oval” and “Ruthless.”
Facebook, Getty Images
Derek Dixon said when he resisted Tyler’s unwanted advances, Tyler threatened to kill off his character on “The Oval” at the end of the season.
The lawsuit included dozens of text messages exchanged between the two men over the years.
Highlights from Tyler Perry’s text messages to Derek Dixon:
1. “No Straight man would be going on walks with you or cooking dinner for you unless they wanted to f*** you. I would f*** you.”
2. “You home? I don’t want you out with your ‘friends’. Drinking.”
3. “You are the rose. But you are so blocked [sexually] that you refuse to be smelt or opened.”
4. “…when you finally are able to unlock your mind, you’re going to make that person crazy. Crazy in a good way.”
5. “Have you been intimate with someone?”
6. “Why did that photo [of Dixon and a male cast member] make me jealous. You two together.”
Tyler has not publicly responded to the accusations. But his lawyer called the allegations “false” and a “shakedown”.
Tyler, 55, is godfather to Harry and Meghan’s daughter, Princess Lilibet of Sussex. The filmmaker loaned Harry and Meghan his $18 million mansion in California after they stepped back from their royal duties in London and defected to the U.S. in 2020.
In June 2020, the couple bought a house in Montecito, California and moved out of Tyler’s home.
BACKGRID
Tyler said he first got acquainted with Meghan, 43, after he sent her a letter before her 2018 royal wedding. Tyler told the former “Suits” actress he was praying for her amid the “hurtful” comments made by her father, former Hollywood lighting director Thomas Markle.
“I couldn’t even imagine this woman finding the man that she loved, the man of her dreams, and him being a prince, and then to walk into all of that madness and need the security of family and then have your father do some horrible things,” Tyler said. “When my life changed and success started to come, family members became different people, and I know how hurtful and horrible it can be,” he added.
MEGA/WENN
Critics of the royal family lashed out at Meghan and Harry for maintaining their silence over Tyler’s sexual harassment scandal.
“Instead of offering their stalwart support as good friends would who even lived in his home, this silence is a clear demonstration of… a total lack of moral courage,” British royals expert Hilary Fordwich told Fox News Digital.
“Their silence to avoid entanglement in a scandal, especially given their precarious standing in both Hollywood and royal circles, won’t look good in the long run,” Fordwich added.
MEGA/WENN
She said Harry and Meghan are in a “lose-lose situation” because keeping their distance from Tyler has backfired.
“Harry and Meghan are in a lose-lose situation. Keeping their distance has backfired either way. If Tyler Perry is exonerated, their lack of support will be seen as a betrayal, further damaging their credibility among friends and potential allies alike. If allegations against Tyler Perry are proven, distancing themselves to protect their brand will still appear opportunistic and ungrateful,” Fordwich said.
