- Derek Dixon, actor in Perry’s BET series The Oval, filed a $260M lawsuit against Tyler Perry.
- Lawsuit alleges quid pro quo, workplace sexual harassment, and sexual assault/battery.
- Claims include unwanted touching, explicit text messages, and manipulation tied to career opportunities.
- Dixon says Perry used promises of roles to maintain inappropriate communication.
- TMZ reports text messages submitted in court include graphic and suggestive content.
Entertainment mogul Tyler Perry is facing a bombshell $260 million lawsuit filed by actor Derek Dixon, who claims the director and producer sexually harassed and assaulted him during the early stages of his acting career. The lawsuit, filed in Georgia, alleges years of sexually charged messages and inappropriate conduct that Dixon says created a hostile work environment and emotional trauma.
According to TMZ, the lawsuit outlines how Perry and Dixon first met in 2019 at an event where Perry allegedly picked Dixon out of the crowd and asked for his phone number—hinting at a potential acting role. Shortly after, Dixon was cast in a minor role on Perry’s streaming series Ruthless.
In January 2020, Dixon claims Perry invited him to his Atlanta home. What Dixon thought would be a professional opportunity turned into something darker, he says. After drinking heavily, Dixon spent the night in a guest room. The lawsuit alleges that Perry entered the room, climbed into bed with him, and began touching his thighs. Dixon says he rejected Perry’s advances, but the inappropriate communication continued.
Following that incident, Dixon was cast as “Dale” on BET’s The Oval. The suit claims Perry sent a series of sexually suggestive text messages, allegedly stating, “No straight man would be going on walks with you or cooking dinner for you unless they wanted to f**k you. I would f**k you.”
Dixon also alleges that Perry invited him again to Atlanta later in 2020, during which time the director asked if he “liked it rough in bed” and physically grabbed him by the throat while making a sexual comment. Dixon says he pushed Perry away and did not allow the situation to escalate further.
Dixon is suing Perry for quid pro quo harassment, workplace sexual harassment, and sexual assault and battery. He claims the incidents spanned multiple years and were compounded by the imbalance of power between a Hollywood mogul and a rising actor.
As of now, Tyler Perry has not made any public statements regarding the lawsuit. Legal experts anticipate a significant public and industry reaction, given Perry’s status as a prominent filmmaker, philanthropist, and owner of one of the largest studios in America.
The case remains ongoing.
(with inputs from TMZ)
A global media for the latest news, entertainment, music fashion, and more.
