Actor Derek Dixon has filed a $260 million lawsuit against Tyler Perry, alleging the media mogul subjected him to quid pro quo sexual harassment, sexual battery, and retaliation while working on Perry’s BET drama “The Oval.” The actor claims Perry leveraged his power and standing in entertainment to create a coercive, sexually exploitative dynamic with Dixon.
Perry allegedly began by offering Dixon career advancement and creative opportunities after their initial meeting in 2019. However, the actor says he repeatedly refused Perry’s advances and attempted to maintain a professional relationship. Despite this, Perry continued to ask Dixon about his sex life, make suggestive comments, and express jealousy over his interactions with other men.
Dixon appeared in 85 episodes of “The Oval” from 2021 to 2025, but distanced himself from Perry after the alleged June 2021 assault. The producer’s “fixers” allegedly reached out with a new storyline for his character and offered him a pay raise, but Dixon claims he could not disclose this information to his castmates.
Dixon reported the alleged sexual harassment to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, but the complaint was not investigated. He left “The Oval” and Perry allegedly retaliated by making his leave of absence unpaid, terminating his employment and causing additional loss of income.
Perry’s attorney Matthew Boyd has stated that Dixon is “setting up a scam,” and the actor will not be shaken down. However, the lawsuit alleges that Perry sustained a pattern of workplace sexual harassment, assault, and retaliation from January 2020 to June 2024.
The complaint features multiple screenshots of alleged conversations between Dixon and Perry, including messages where the director asks about Dixon’s sex life and likens him to a rose but says he is “so blocked that you refuse to be smelt or opened.” The lawsuit includes allegations of work environment harassment, workplace gender violence, sexual assault, negligent retention, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
Source: https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2025-06-18/tyler-perry-sued-sexual-harassment-actor-the-oval