Actor Derek Dixon, who recently filed a $260 million sexual assault claim against Atlanta entertainment mogul Tyler Perry, has come forward with his first interview since the lawsuit. In an exclusive conversation, Dixon opens up about the terrifying experience of going public with his allegations and why he felt compelled to speak out.
According to Dixon, the process of bringing his lawsuit was “terrifying,” but he couldn’t stay silent anymore due to concerns that Perry might continue exploiting male actors in his productions. Dixon alleges that Perry made several unwanted sexual advances toward him, including pinning him against a wall and groping him. He also claims that Perry snuck into his bed on one occasion.
Dixon, who appeared in 85 episodes of Perry’s BET series The Oval, says he met Perry through work but didn’t realize he was interested in men until after they started working together. Dixon believes that his excitement about his career and fear of Perry’s power led him to ignore certain warning signs and overlook professional inappropriateness.
The actor describes a range of uncomfortable interactions with Perry, including being asked to come to his trailer for a drink while on set and being groped by the mogul. Dixon claims that Perry’s behavior continued even after he started delivering good performances, with the producer often sending personal texts and making suggestive comments.
Dixon’s experience has left him feeling anxious and depressed. He initially tried to remain quiet due to fear of retaliation but eventually decided to come forward after another actor, Christian Keyes, shared his own abusive experience with Perry on social media.
In response to Dixon’s allegations, Tyler Perry’s lawyer Matthew Boyd has called the claims “fabricated” and said that Perry will not be “shaken down.” However, Dixon remains determined to see justice served and is confident that his story will help protect future victims in the entertainment industry.
Source: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/tyler-perry-accuser-derek-dixon-interview-1236309879