Actor Sues Tyler Perry for Alleged Sexual Harassment and Assault
Tyler Perry, the acclaimed filmmaker and creator of numerous television and film productions, has been hit with a lawsuit alleging sexual harassment and assault by an actor who appeared on his BET series The Oval.
Derek Dixon, who featured in 85 episodes of the show, filed the suit claiming Perry used his influence in the entertainment industry to sexually exploit him. According to the legal complaint, Dixon first met Perry in 2019 while working for an event company during a party at Perry’s Atlanta studio. Following that encounter, Perry allegedly took a personal interest in Dixon, began calling him, and later offered him the role of Dale on The Oval.
The lawsuit outlines a series of alleged inappropriate interactions, including an incident in June 2021 when Dixon was staying at Perry’s guesthouse. It claims that Perry, while intoxicated, groped Dixon’s buttocks. The suit further alleges that Perry invited Dixon to additional private events and eventually to his home, where after consuming several drinks, Perry insisted Dixon spend the night. According to the filing, Perry entered the guest room and got into bed with Dixon, making unwanted physical advances.
“Dixon kept informing Perry that he was not into sex in order to keep Perry at bay while at the same time not insulting the person who was dangling his career in front of him,” the suit states.
The complaint accuses Perry of sexual harassment, sexual assault, infliction of emotional distress, and retaliation. It further alleges that Perry used The Oval as a form of quid pro quo, leveraging Dixon’s career prospects to manipulate him.
Dixon also claims that days after the alleged assault, Perry called to apologize, attributing his behavior to testosterone supplements, and reiterated promises to produce a new show. However, the lawsuit alleges that while Perry purchased the rights to the project, he never intended to move forward with production.
In response to the lawsuit, Perry’s attorney, Matthew Boyd, dismissed the claims, calling the suit an attempted extortion.
“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 claims of harassment will fail.”
As of this report, Perry has not personally commented on the matter. The case is expected to proceed in court in the coming months.