Acclaimed filmmaker and actor Tyler Perry has been named in a $260 million lawsuit filed by fellow actor Derek Dixon, who alleges a pattern of sexual harassment, assault, and professional retaliation spanning several years.
The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, accuses Perry of leveraging his influence in the entertainment industry to create what Dixon describes as a “coercive, sexually exploitative dynamic.” Dixon, known for his role as Dale in Perry’s BET drama The Oval, claims the misconduct began after the two met in 2019 at the grand opening of Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta.
According to the complaint, Perry allegedly initiated inappropriate communications, which escalated into multiple instances of sexual assault, including incidents at Perry’s Georgia residence and during a cast trip to the Bahamas. Dixon also alleges that his job security and career advancement were tied to his compliance with Perry’s advances, citing offers of recurring roles and promises to produce a pilot Dixon had written.
In response, Perry’s legal team has strongly denied the allegations. Attorney Matthew Boyd issued a statement calling the claims “fabricated” and “a scam,” asserting, “Tyler will not be shaken down, and we are confident these fabricated claims of harassment will fail.”
The lawsuit includes detailed accounts, screenshots of alleged communications, and references to professional consequences Dixon says he endured after resisting Perry’s advances. Dixon claims he filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in 2024 and ultimately resigned from The Oval due to emotional and professional distress.