Actor and writer Derek Dixon has filed a $260 million lawsuit against renowned filmmaker and media mogul Tyler Perry, alleging sexual harassment, groping, and emotional abuse. The 46-page suit, filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court, outlines claims spanning from 2019 to 2021.
According to Dixon, the alleged misconduct began shortly after he was cast in Perry’s television series The Oval and Ruthless. He claims Perry sent him explicit messages, made repeated unwanted sexual advances, and groped him on multiple occasions. One of the most serious allegations involves an incident at Perry’s Georgia home, where Dixon says he was invited under friendly pretenses, served drinks, and later assaulted in a guest room.
“Mr. Perry sought the one thing his wealth and influence could not purchase—a sexual relationship with a man who would remain silent,” the lawsuit states.
Dixon further alleges that Perry used promises of professional advancement to manipulate and silence him. He says he was told he would have the opportunity to develop his original script, Losing It, only to later realize those offers were a tactic to keep him from speaking out.
“They used my dream against me,” Dixon said in a public statement.
The actor also accuses Perry of treating him like an "on-call pet," claiming that after he began to resist Perry’s advances, his character on The Oval was abruptly written off. He estimates that he lost $400,000 in income after walking away from the show due to the emotional toll.
The lawsuit names Tyler Perry Studios, BET, and Paramount Global as co-defendants, accusing them of fostering and concealing a toxic work environment that enabled abuse.
Perry's legal team has denied all allegations. His attorney, Matthew Boyd, dismissed the lawsuit as a “complete scam,” alleging that Dixon is fabricating claims in an attempt to gain money and attention.
“This is a blatant attempt to exploit Mr. Perry’s name for personal gain,” Boyd said. “No misconduct occurred.”
The lawsuit draws parallels between Perry and other powerful figures in Hollywood previously accused of sexual misconduct, suggesting a broader pattern of abuse and fear used to silence victims.
Dixon says he filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) before going public with the lawsuit. The outcome of that complaint has not been disclosed, but the case is now drawing national attention and could proceed to a jury trial.
Leave a Reply