Award-winning American filmmaker and actor Tyler Perry has been hit with a staggering $260 million lawsuit by fellow actor Derek Dixon, who is accusing the media mogul of sexual harassment, assault, and career retaliation.
According to court documents filed on June 13 in Los Angeles, Dixon claims he first encountered Perry in September 2019 while working during the grand opening of Tyler Perry Studios, a landmark event that attracted major attention in the entertainment industry.
Following their meeting, Dixon said he landed recurring roles in two of Perry’s BET series, Ruthless and The Oval where he played the character Dale, a fan-favorite figure in the politically charged drama.
In the lawsuit, Dixon alleges that Perry made early promises of professional growth, including commitments to produce his pilot script and provide him with additional acting opportunities. However, he claims things soured when he allegedly rebuffed Perry’s romantic or sexual advances.
Dixon further claimed that Perry sexually assaulted him at his private residence in January 2020, an allegation that marks the centerpiece of the legal complaint. Despite this, the following month, Dixon said he was offered a series regular role on The Oval; a move he believes was designed to entrap or manipulate him.
The actor also accused Perry of allegedly using his show’s storyline as a means of coercion, implying that his continued presence in the series depended on his willingness to yield to the advances.
“If he did not engage with the alleged sexual overtures, his role would be cut off,” Dixon claims in the lawsuit.
True to his fears, Dixon’s character was later shot four times in the series, a plot twist he sees as a form of professional punishment and symbolic removal.
In swift response, Tyler Perry’s legal team denied all allegations, branding the claims as entirely “fabricated” and part of an elaborate “scam.”
The lawsuit has sent shockwaves across Hollywood, given Perry’s reputation as one of the industry’s most powerful and philanthropic figures. As the story unfolds, all eyes will be on how the courts and public opinion respond to what could become one of the most explosive legal battles in recent entertainment history.
