Tyler Perry, the powerhouse behind numerous hit shows and films, is now facing a $260 million lawsuit filed by actor Derek Dixon, who accuses the media mogul of using his industry influence to sexually harass, assault, and silence him over a period of time.
Dixon, known for his role in 85 episodes of The Oval on BET, filed the lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court, alleging Perry created a manipulative and abusive environment.
“Mr. Perry took his success and power and used his considerable influence in the entertainment industry to create a coercive, sexually exploitative dynamic with Mr. Dixon — initially promising him career advancement and creative opportunities, such as producing his pilot and casting him in his show, only to subject him to escalating sexual harassment, assault and battery, and professional retaliation,” the lawsuit claims.
Filed on a Friday and first reported Tuesday by TMZ, the case outlines a disturbing pattern of behaviour.
Perry’s attorney, Matthew Boyd, has strongly denied the accusations. “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. “But Tyler will not be shaken down, and we are confident these fabricated harassment claims will fail.”
The lawsuit details how Perry first noticed Dixon at a 2019 party, where Dixon was working as event staff. Perry allegedly offered him an audition, which led to a minor role in Ruthless and later a more prominent one in The Oval.
But things allegedly took a darker turn. The lawsuit includes text messages Perry reportedly sent Dixon. One of them reads: “What’s it going to take for you to have guiltless sex?”
As Perry’s alleged advances intensified, so did Dixon’s role on the show. “Dixon did his best to tiptoe around Mr. Perry’s sexual aggression while keeping on Mr. Perry’s good side,” the lawsuit says. “Mr. Perry made it clear to Dixon that if Dixon ignored Perry or failed to engage with the sexual innuendoes, Dixon’s character would ‘die.’”
According to Dixon, Perry sexually assaulted him on multiple occasions. One such incident, the suit alleges, involved Perry “forcibly pulling off Mr. Dixon’s clothing, groped his buttocks, and attempted to force himself on Dixon.” Despite Dixon’s clear refusal—he said “No”—Perry allegedly didn’t stop until Dixon redirected the encounter.
The next day, Perry apologised and offered to work on a pilot with Dixon. That pilot, titled Losing It, was later purchased by Perry, who also gave Dixon a raise, a move the lawsuit paints as a way to buy Dixon’s silence.
The fear of being written off the show loomed large. Dixon claims, “The fear of his character dying kept him quiet as intended.”
The legal documents also cite another alleged assault that occurred when Dixon was staying in a guest room at Perry’s house. Perry, the suit alleges, climbed into bed with him uninvited and began groping him.
Dixon eventually left Atlanta, home to Perry’s studios, and relocated to Los Angeles to escape the situation. In 2024, he filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. After the producers of The Oval took no action, Dixon resigned.
The Associated Press notes it generally does not name individuals reporting sexual assault unless they speak publicly, as Dixon has done.
The Oval is one of many shows helmed by the 55-year-old Perry, who rose to fame with his Madea films and has since established a massive TV and film production empire.
