Braxton Demarco Wells, a U.S. Army veteran and actor from the BET series The Oval, has come forward with shocking allegations against Tyler Perry Studios’ Senior Vice President of Scripted Programming, Mark E. Swinton. Wells, in an Instagram exposé posted July 6, accused Swinton of grooming and raping him in January 2022. He claims he was flown under false pretenses from Los Angeles to Georgia for a role, only to be sexually assaulted. “Mark E. Swinton, you groomed and raped me while I was under your influence, flying me from Los Angeles to Georgia under false pretenses,” Wells stated.
In the same post, Wells condemned Swinton’s abuse of power. “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,” he charged.
Alleged Cover‑Up by Tyler Perry
Wells also directed forceful statements at Tyler Perry himself. He accused the mogul of protecting Swinton to preserve the studio’s reputation. “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,” Wells wrote. “You retained a predator in your house and helped cover it up, protecting your brand over a broken human life. That’s not faith — that’s fraud.” He concluded with a religious warning: “Yahweh Elohim sees all. He is not mocked.”
Reports suggest Wells alleges pressure from legal channels as well. He claims Tyler Perry’s legal team, and even his own attorney, compelled him to sign a nondisclosure agreement, discouraging him from going to law enforcement. In Wells’s words, “They told me to take down the video threaten me and even my own lawyer threaten me while I was trying to go to law enforcement!”
Legal Action Underway
Wells says he is now pursuing legal remedies, asking for the NDA to be voided and intending to sue for rape, emotional distress, and legal malpractice. He also accuses attorney Genie Harrison—and a studio‑hired investigator—of misconduct related to handling his case.
This revelation arrives less than a month after fellow Oval actor Derek Dixon filed a $260 million lawsuit accusing Perry of sexual assault and retaliation. In response to Dixon, Perry’s attorney dismissed the claim as a “scam,” promising to defend the case vigorously .
A Pattern Emerges
With two separate parties now leveling accusations of sexual misconduct linked to Tyler Perry Studios, the company faces intense public scrutiny. Wells’s account provides disturbing details, including alleged grooming and coercion tied to an NDA.
Advocates for survivors contend that naming powerful executives may encourage others to speak up. Legal experts note that Wells’s description of signing an NDA during ongoing trauma could challenge its enforceability under duress.
As filming on upcoming Tyler Perry projects continues, industry insiders will be watching for internal investigations. Calls are increasing for transparency and accountability from the studio. Observers await any official statement or legal response from Perry, Swinton, or their representatives.