Tyler Perry Joins Keisha Lance Bottoms’ Georgia Transition Team Despite Director’s Sexual Assault Lawsuits

On Tuesday night, Keisha Lance Bottoms won the 2026 Georgia gubernatorial election, making history as the first Black woman to be elected governor of any U.S. state and Georgia’s first Black governor.

One of the first moves made by Bottoms, who’d previously served as the mayor of Atlanta, a member of Atlanta City Council and a senior advisor and director of the White House Office of Public Engagement under former President Biden, was announcing, “Tyler Perry, an entertainment mogul who is also a huge philanthropic part of our Georgia community and owns Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta,” as part of her transition team.

Bottoms made the announcement during a press conference early Friday, and it’s a controversial pick given the disturbing allegations that the “Madea” filmmaker has faced in recent years.

Actor Derek Dixon, who’d acted in a number of Perry productions including “The Oval,” filed a lawsuit against Perry in June of last year alleging that Perry had subjected him to numerous instances of sexual battery and assault dating back to 2021. According to the lawsuit, Dixon claims Perry has “been using his power and influence to molest, abuse, and sexually assault impressionable and vulnerable employees and actors who look to him for guidance and mentorship while pursuing their dreams.” Dixon is seeking $260 million in damages and a trial by jury.

Then, in December 2025, actor Mario Rodriguez, who’d starred in Perry’s comedy-horror film “Boo! A Madea Halloween,” filed a $77 million sexual battery lawsuit against Perry and the film’s distributor Lionsgate accusing Perry of unwanted sexual advices, sexual battery and sexual assault, and that Lionsgate ignored his alleged predation. However, chummy text messages between Rodriguez and Perry after the alleged sexual misconduct later emerged.

Bottoms is set to take office as Georgia’s 84th governor on Jan. 11, 2027.