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Tyler Perry appeared to be in good spirits while at a screening for his latest film Madea’s Destination Wedding, less than month since a $260 million lawsuit was filed against the actor and director over alleged sexual harassment, assault and retaliation.
Perry, 55, attended a special screening of his Netflix film at the Regal Atlantic Station on Thursday, June 10. The film, currently available on the streamer, is the 13th film in the Madea cinematic universe.
Written and directed by Perry, and filmed partially on location in the Bahamas, Madea’s Destination Wedding also stars Diamond White, Taja V. Simpson, Xavier Smalls, Cassi Davis, Tamela Mann, David Mann and Jermaine Harris.
According to a synopsis, Madea and her crew start “stirring up chaos and heartwarming fun” in the Bahamas after “Brian and his ex-wife Debrah are shocked to learn their daughter Tiffany is engaged to a rapper she met on a yacht — and the wedding is in two weeks.”
Derek White/Getty/Netflix
Perry’s public appearance comes nearly a month since actor Derek Dixon filed a lawsuit against Perry on June 13 in Los Angeles for $260 million over alleged sexual harassment, assault and retaliation. He has accused Perry of creating “a coercive, sexually exploitative dynamic” between them while he was starring on the filmmaker’s shows The Oval and Ruthless, on which Dixon played a character named Dale.
Matthew Boyd, an attorney for Perry, responded to Dixon’s complaint in a statement to PEOPLE, saying, “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 statement continued.
Dixon spoke out for the first time since filing the lawsuit in an email interview with The Hollywood Reporter published the same day as Perry’s Madea screening, saying that the entire experience has been “terrifying” but that he “couldn’t just let him get away with this.”
“Everyone deserves to go to work and do their job without their boss trying to have sex with them,” Dixon said. “My goal is to help ensure that the next generation of actors and creatives don’t have to choose between their dreams and their dignity.”
Perry has yet to publicly comment on the lawsuit.
Netflix
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In June, Perry spoke exclusively with PEOPLE about the success of the Madea franchise, which has spanned two decades.
“I’m filled with a tremendous amount of pride when I think of how Madea has continuously captivated audiences throughout the years,” Perry shared.
“She’s meant to bring joy, laughter and comfort, and to see people are still watching and enjoying is a wonderful thing,” he added.
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org.
