Tyler Perry, the celebrated actor and filmmaker behind hit BET series like The Oval and Ruthless, now finds himself at the center of a staggering $260 million lawsuit filed by actor Derek Dixon. Dixon, who portrayed the character Dale on The Oval, alleges a harrowing pattern of sexual harassment, assault, and professional retaliation during his time working with Perry. The complaint, lodged on June 13, 2025, in Los Angeles Superior Court, accuses Perry of leveraging his immense industry influence to create what Dixon describes as a "coercive, sexually exploitative dynamic." This explosive legal battle is shaking Hollywood and raising serious questions about power, consent, and accountability in the entertainment industry.
Dixon’s allegations paint a disturbing picture that began in 2019 when he first met Perry at an event hosted by an event company where Dixon was working. According to the lawsuit, Perry singled him out, exchanged contact information, and suggested the possibility of a role in his productions. This encounter led to Dixon being cast in several episodes of Perry’s spinoff series Ruthless, before his character was transferred to the flagship series The Oval.
What followed, Dixon claims, was a series of unwanted sexual advances and escalating harassment. In early 2020, Dixon says he stayed overnight at Perry’s Atlanta home after drinking too much to drive. He alleges that Perry entered the guest room where he was sleeping, climbed into bed beside him, and began touching his thighs suggestively. Despite Dixon making it clear that he was not interested in any sexual activity, the inappropriate behavior allegedly continued and intensified.
Text messages included in the lawsuit reveal Perry asking Dixon, "What is it going to take for you to have guiltless sex?" When Dixon cited "religious guilt" as a barrier, Perry reportedly replied, "I have friends in their 50s and 60s who are still dealing with that and it’s so sad. You can … have freedom from religious guilt and still believe in Christ." These messages, Dixon claims, were part of a broader pattern of coercion and manipulation.
Further incidents include allegations of non-consensual groping, including one occasion where Perry allegedly pinned Dixon against a wall in his trailer and assaulted him. Dixon also recalls a frightening episode in late 2020 at Perry’s home where the filmmaker grabbed him by the neck, saying, "Look how excited you just got." The most extreme allegation involves an incident in 2021 when Perry purportedly pulled down Dixon’s underwear during a late-night visit and told him, "Relax and just let it happen." Throughout these ordeals, Dixon says he felt trapped, fearing for his career and remaining silent to protect his future.
Dixon’s role on The Oval seems to have been manipulated as part of this coercive dynamic. His character, Dale, was written as a vulnerable gay store clerk who used sex as a survival tool, mirroring the alleged real-life expectations Perry had for Dixon. The lawsuit alleges that Perry promised Dixon career advancement, including producing his pilot project titled Losing It, but when Dixon rejected Perry’s advances, retaliation followed. Dixon’s character arc was reportedly threatened, culminating in a dramatic cliffhanger where Dale was shot four times, which Dixon interprets as a thinly veiled threat.
After formally complaining through his attorney, Dixon says Perry’s team suggested he take medical leave but later terminated him without pay. The stress of these experiences led Dixon to develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), requiring antidepressant medication. He ultimately left the show during its final season, forfeiting nearly $400,000 in earnings.
The lawsuit lists ten causes of action, including sexual battery, workplace sexual harassment, gender violence, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and retaliation under California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act. It also invokes California’s Sexual Abuse and Cover Up Accountability Act, which allows certain claims to be revived even if previously time-barred. Dixon is seeking $260 million in punitive damages, attorneys’ fees, injunctive relief, and a jury trial.
Tyler Perry’s legal team has vehemently denied the allegations. Attorney Matthew Boyd called the lawsuit "a scam," telling TMZ, "This is an individual who got close to Tyler Perry for what now appears to be nothing more than setting up a scam. But Tyler will not be shaken down, and we are confident these fabricated claims of harassment will fail." Neither Perry nor his production companies, TPS Production Services and And Action LLC, have issued further comments. BET, the network airing The Oval, has also remained silent on the matter.
The case has drawn comparisons to other high-profile Hollywood abuse scandals, with Dixon’s suit likening Perry’s alleged conduct to that of disgraced figures such as Harvey Weinstein, Bill Cosby, and Sean “Diddy” Combs. The suit claims Perry has used his power to prey on vulnerable actors and employees seeking mentorship and career opportunities.
As the entertainment industry continues to grapple with issues of harassment and abuse of power, this lawsuit against one of its most influential figures underscores the ongoing challenges actors face in protecting themselves professionally and personally. Dixon’s decision to come forward after years of silence and fear highlights the complexities victims confront when their careers hang in the balance.
With the legal battle just beginning, all eyes will be on the Los Angeles court system as it navigates this high-stakes case. Whether Dixon’s claims will withstand scrutiny or be dismissed as Perry’s team insists remains to be seen. In the meantime, the lawsuit has already sparked conversations about the responsibilities of powerful creators and the need for safer, more transparent workplaces in Hollywood.
For now, Derek Dixon’s allegations stand as a stark reminder of the shadows that can lurk behind the glitz and glamour of the entertainment world, and the courage it takes to confront them.
