Hollywood mogul Tyler Perry is at the center of a major legal battle after actor Derek Dixon filed a $260 million lawsuit accusing him of sexual harassment, assault, and workplace retaliation.
Dixon, known for roles in Perry’s hit series The Oval and Ruthless, claims he was subjected to a “pattern of coercive sexual behavior” spanning over two years, from late 2019 to mid-2021.
Court documents reveal that the two first met at a studio event in Atlanta. Shortly after, Perry allegedly invited Dixon to his home in January 2020. Dixon recounts that after drinking excessively, he slept in a guest room, only to be awakened by Perry allegedly climbing into bed and touching his thighs. Though he claims to have rejected the advance, Dixon says Perry subsequently offered him a more prominent role in The Oval.
According to the lawsuit, Perry’s inappropriate behavior escalated through sexually suggestive texts and comments. One alleged message read, “No straight man would be going on walks with you or cooking dinner for you unless they wanted to fk you. I would fk you.” Dixon says he feared that rejecting Perry’s advances would cost him his job.
A second alleged encounter at Perry’s Atlanta home took a darker turn. Perry reportedly asked Dixon, “Do you like it rough in bed?” before allegedly grabbing him by the throat. The most serious incident, Dixon claims, occurred in June 2021, when Perry allegedly entered his bedroom at the guest house, pulled down his underwear, groped his buttocks, and said, “Relax and just let it happen.”
After enduring ongoing harassment and fearing career damage, Dixon filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in June 2024. He left The Oval shortly thereafter, reportedly losing an estimated $400,000 in earnings. The lawsuit accuses Perry and his company, Tyler Perry Studios, of sexual assault, battery, quid pro quo harassment, and retaliation. Dixon is seeking $260 million in damages.
Perry’s legal counsel, Matthew Boyd, responded to the suit, calling the allegations “completely fabricated” and characterizing the lawsuit as a money grab. “This is an individual who got close to Tyler Perry for what now appears to be nothing more than setting up a scam,” Boyd stated.
In contrast, Dixon’s attorney, Jonathan J. Delshad, emphasized that “the lawsuit speaks for itself,” and expressed confidence that justice would prevail.
The case is expected to unfold in what could become one of Hollywood’s most closely watched legal confrontations. As one of the entertainment industry’s most powerful figures, Perry now faces not only serious legal consequences but also intense public scrutiny that may impact his brand and studio operations moving forward.
