Acclaimed American filmmaker and actor Tyler Perry has been hit with a massive $260 million lawsuit filed by fellow actor Derek Dixon, who accuses the media mogul of repeated sexual assault and harassment. The lawsuit, filed on Friday in Los Angeles, centers around events that allegedly occurred before and during the pair’s professional engagement on BET’s political drama, The Oval.
According to court documents, Dixon claims that Perry engaged in a pattern of sexually inappropriate behaviour, including multiple assaults and ongoing harassment, which he says were fueled by an abuse of power. Dixon asserts that Perry exploited his influence in the entertainment industry to coerce aspiring actors into compromising situations under the guise of professional opportunity.
“This is someone who clearly used his success and status to manipulate and control,” the legal filing reads. It further claims that Perry “sought something his wealth and fame couldn’t buy — silence and submission in a sexual relationship,” suggesting a deliberate abuse of authority within a toxic professional dynamic.
The lawsuit details several disturbing incidents, including an alleged groping inside Perry’s trailer in 2020, as well as a separate encounter at Perry’s residence where Dixon alleges the filmmaker forcefully pulled down his underwear and urged him to “just let it happen.” The actor says he managed to defuse the situation before it escalated, but also alleges that he was choked by Perry during another encounter in March 2020.
In response, Perry’s attorney, Matthew Boyd, dismissed the allegations as a calculated attempt at extortion. “This is an individual who sought proximity to Mr. Perry for ulterior motives. These baseless accusations are nothing more than a scam, and we’re confident they will be thrown out,” Boyd said in a statement.
Despite this, Dixon has expanded the scope of his legal action, also naming TPS Production Services — Perry’s production company — as a co-defendant for all charges except sexual battery and assault. The company is being accused of negligence in hiring, supervision, and employee retention.
The comprehensive lawsuit includes claims of quid pro quo sexual harassment, gender-based workplace violence, creation of a hostile work environment, sexual assault, sexual battery, violation of California’s Bane Civil Rights Act, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
Dixon says the trauma from these alleged experiences led to a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and ultimately prompted his departure from The Oval. He claims to have filed a formal complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) prior to taking legal action.
