An actor who contributed to Tyler Perry's television drama, "The Oval," has launched a lawsuit accusing Perry of exploiting his formidable influence in the entertainment world to repeatedly sexually assault and harass him, all while enforcing a culture of silence. Filed in the Los Angeles Superior Court, the lawsuit brought forth by Derek Dixon, who featured in 85 episodes of the BET series, demands compensation amounting to at least $260 million in damages.
According to the lawsuit, "Perry capitalized on his success and power, wielding his immense influence to foster a coercive and sexually exploitative relationship with Mr. Dixon. Initially dangling carrots of career advancement and creative prospects, such as producing Dixon's pilot and casting him in his show, Perry instead subjected him to a relentless campaign of sexual harassment, assault, battery, and professional retaliation."
The lawsuit, filed on Friday and first reported by TMZ on Tuesday, details Perry's alleged misconduct. Perry's attorney, Matthew Boyd, dismissed the allegations as untruthful.
"This individual, who seemingly gained Tyler Perry's trust, appears to have orchestrated nothing more than an elaborate scam," Boyd stated on Tuesday. "Tyler will not be intimidated, and we are assured that these fabricated accusations of harassment will ultimately fail."
The lawsuit recounts how Perry first took notice of Dixon in 2019, when Dixon was part of the event staff at one of Perry's parties. Perry subsequently offered Dixon an audition. Dixon first appeared in a minor role in Perry's series "Ruthless" before landing a more prominent part in the political drama "The Oval."
Shortly thereafter, Perry allegedly began bombarding Dixon with unsolicited sexual text messages, as evidenced by screenshots included in the lawsuit.
"What price must you pay for sex devoid of guilt?" reads one of the messages. According to the lawsuit, Perry began offering Dixon an increasingly prominent role in the show as his sexual advances grew bolder and more persistent. Despite the encroaching inappropriateness, the actor strives to maintain a friendly demeanor while steadfastly upholding his boundaries.
"Dixon navigated Mr. Perry's sexual aggression with delicate precision, all the while seeking to remain in his good graces," the lawsuit recounts. "Perry made it abundantly clear to Dixon that disregarding his advances or failing to engage in sexual insinuations would spell the end of Dixon’s character on the show."
The lawsuit alleges that Perry eventually subjected Dixon to sexual assault "on numerous occasions," including one harrowing instance where he "violently stripped Mr. Dixon of his clothing, fondled his buttocks, and attempted to force himself upon him." Despite Dixon's clear and resolute "No," Perry initially disregarded his protests until Dixon managed to defuse the situation and steer the conversation elsewhere.
The following day, Perry offered an apology and promised to collaborate with Dixon on a TV pilot that Dixon was eager to produce. Subsequently, Dixon received a raise, which the lawsuit suggests was a strategic attempt to silence him. The fear of his character being written out kept him compliant, as intended.
Perry produced and acquired the rights to the pilot, titled "Losing It," yet the lawsuit contends that Perry had no intention of selling the show and was merely using it as a means of exerting control over Dixon.
The lawsuit delineates several other instances of assault, including one occasion when Dixon was staying in a guest room at Perry’s house. Uninvited, Perry climbed into bed with him and commenced groping him, the lawsuit alleges. Seeking to establish distance between them, Dixon eventually relocated from Atlanta, where Perry’s production studio was based, to Los Angeles.
In 2024, Dixon filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. When no action was taken by the show’s producers, he resigned. The Associated Press typically refrains from naming individuals who allege sexual abuse unless they come forward publicly, as Dixon has done.
"The Oval" is among the myriad television series executive produced, written, and directed by the 55-year-old Perry, who first gained fame as the creator and star of the "Madea" films and has since established a formidable production empire in television and film. As an actor, he has also appeared in films such as "Gone Girl" and "Don’t Look Up."
