Actor Braxton Wells Accuses Tyler Perry Studios VP Mark Swinton Of Assault, Alleges Cover-Up

Just weeks after actor Derek Dixon filed a lawsuit accusing filmmaker Tyler Perry of sexual assault, fresh controversy has emerged as actor and U.S. Army veteran Braxton Demarco Wells has made explosive allegations against a top executive at Tyler Perry Studios.

In a statement posted to Instagram, Wells accused Mark E. Swinton, the Senior Vice President of Scripted Programming at Tyler Perry Studios, of rape and grooming, claiming he was flown to Georgia under deceptive circumstances and later assaulted.

“Mark E. Swinton, you groomed and raped me while I was under your influence, flying me from Los Angeles to Georgia under false pretences,” Wells wrote. “You abused your position as Vice President of Tyler Perry Studios — a company that claims to stand for faith — to commit unspeakable evil behind closed doors.”

Wells, known for his appearance in The Oval, alleged that Tyler Perry was aware of the incident and remained silent. He further accused Perry of collaborating with legal representatives to coerce him into signing a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) in a bid to suppress the claims.

“Tyler Perry, you built your empire on the image of a God-fearing man, yet when darkness crept in through your own executive, you chose silence,” the actor stated in the post. “You retained a predator in your house and helped cover it up, protecting your brand over a broken human life.”

Wells is calling for the NDA to be nullified and is reportedly planning to file a lawsuit against Swinton and Perry, citing rape, emotional distress, and legal malpractice.

As of the time of filing this report, neither Mark Swinton nor Tyler Perry has issued a public response to the allegations. Wells’ legal team has not released any official documentation, and no formal charges have been filed at this time.

Context Of Recent Allegations

This development follows closely on the heels of Derek Dixon’s lawsuit against Tyler Perry, which alleges that the media mogul sexually assaulted him following a 2019 encounter. Perry’s attorney, Matthew Boyd, responded to that case by denying the claims and characterizing them as an attempted shakedown.

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

As the story continues to unfold, it is likely to spark renewed conversation about power dynamics, abuse allegations in the entertainment industry, and the accountability of corporate leadership in addressing such claims.

Legal experts suggest that if Wells moves forward with a lawsuit, it could become a significant legal and public relations challenge for Tyler Perry Studios — particularly if additional claims or evidence emerge.

The video of Wells’ emotional account is currently circulating on social media, drawing public attention and sparking debate.