*Actor Derek Dixon, known for his role as Dale in Tyler Perry’s “The Oval,” has filed a $260 million lawsuit against the acclaimed filmmaker, alleging a disturbing pattern of sexual harassment and assault.
The legal action traces back to their first encounter in 2019 during the Tyler Perry Studios grand opening, where Perry allegedly picked Dixon out of the crowd, requested his phone number, and later cast him in “Ruthless.” Dixon claims that in January 2020, Perry invited him to his Georgia residence, offered drinks, and assaulted him after insisting he stay in a guest room.
“He climbed into bed with me and began rubbing my thigh. I immediately jumped out of the bed and said, ‘I’m not that sexual’ and stood up until he left the room,” Dixon told The Hollywood Reporter, underscoring his firm rejection. He alleges Perry then sent “strange and untowardly” messages, escalating their interactions.
Tensions reportedly grew as Dixon joined “The Oval,” where Perry’s texts turned suggestive, probing Dixon’s sexual preferences and commenting on his physique. Perry allegedly told Dixon he needed to “let someone hold you and make love to you.”
Another alleged assault took place in Perry’s trailer, leaving Dixon nauseous and anxious about his livelihood. “As soon as Derek Dixon left the trailer following Perry’s violent assault, Dixon became severely nauseous and extremely anxious about his job,” the lawsuit states. A further incident is said to have occurred at a cast party on Perry’s private Bahamas island.
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In his first interview since filing a $260M sexual assault claim against Tyler Perry, actor Derek Dixon says he felt compelled to go public because “everyone deserves to go to work and do their job without their boss trying to have sex with them” https://t.co/kq5LsPkpg6 pic.twitter.com/n2XA65t7ah
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) July 10, 2025
In June 2021, during a meeting about Dixon’s pilot “Losing It,” Perry allegedly groped him again despite Dixon’s protests. “I told him ‘No,’ ‘Stop,’ and ‘I don’t want this,’” Dixon detailed, but claims Perry ignored his pleas, saying, “relax and let it happen.”
“He told me to give him a goodnight hug and as I did, he abruptly and forcefully pulled down my underwear and groped my bare ass,” Dixon noted in the complaint. “When I tried to pull my underwear back up, he grabbed my wrists to keep me from putting them back on. I couldn’t believe what was happening.”
By 2020, Dixon’s health had declined, leading to his use of antidepressants. In 2023, he moved to California to distance himself from Perry, but the filmmaker allegedly continued to promise to produce “Losing It” to keep him quiet.
“I couldn’t just let him get away with this,” Dixon said. He added, “Everyone deserves to go to work and do their job without their boss trying to have sex with them.”
Perry’s attorney, Matthew Boyd, labeled the claims a “scam,” vowing a strong defense.
MORE NEWS ON EURWEB.COM: Tyler Perry Responds After Hit with $260M Sexual Assault Lawsuit
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