Tyler Perry Sued for S£xual Ass@ult and Harassment by ‘The Oval’ Actor Derek Dixon
Hollywood media mogul Tyler Perry is facing serious allegations from actor Derek Dixon, who has filed a lawsuit accusing the acclaimed filmmaker of repeated s€xual assault, h@r@ssment, and professional retaliation.
The legal action, lodged in the Los Angeles Superior Court, seeks damages amounting to at least US$260 million.
Dixon, who featured in 85 episodes of Perry’s popular BET political drama The Oval, claims that Perry misused his influence in the entertainment industry to coerce and exploit him s£xually, under the guise of career advancement.
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According to the lawsuit, Perry first encountered Dixon in 2019 when the latter was working as event staff at a party hosted by the media executive.
Shortly thereafter, Dixon was offered an audition, leading to minor roles in Perry’s series Ruthless and eventually a more significant part in The Oval.
The suit alleges that Perry began sending Dixon unsolicited and s£xually suggestive messages, some of which are included in the filing as screenshots.
One such message reportedly reads: “What’s it going to take for you to have guiltless s£x?” As Perry’s alleged advances intensified, Dixon says he was offered more prominent roles in exchange for compliance.
Efforts by Dixon to maintain professional boundaries reportedly led to threats that his character would be written off the show.
The actor further alleges that Perry s£xually assaulted him on multiple occasions, including an incident where Perry allegedly forcibly undressed and groped him.
Although Dixon firmly rejected Perry’s alleged advances, he claims he received a raise and an offer to produce his TV pilot Losing It—moves he believes were meant to silence him.
The lawsuit also details another alleged @ss@ult where Perry is said to have entered Dixon’s guest room uninvited and groped him in bed.
Eventually, Dixon relocated from Atlanta to Los Angeles to distance himself from Perry. After filing a complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in 2024 and seeing no resolution, he resigned from the show.
Tyler Perry, through his attorney Matthew Boyd, has denied the allegations, describing them as a fabricated attempt to extort the filmmaker.
“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 in a statement. “Tyler will not be shaken down.”
Perry, 55, is best known for his Madea film franchise and for building one of the largest production empires in the United States.
His portfolio includes writing, directing, and producing numerous television shows and films, including appearances in Hollywood titles like Gone Girl and Don’t Look Up.
Derek Dixon has publicly identified himself as the complainant, making his identity permissible for media coverage under international reporting standards.
