Tyler Perry is facing a $260 million lawsuit filed by actor Derek Dixon, who starred in the drama series The Oval. The legal complaint accuses Perry of repeated sexual assault, harassment, and professional retaliation. The case was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court and includes several serious claims against the filmmaker and producer.
Dixon worked on The Oval for 85 episodes. According to the lawsuit, Perry promised him career support, including a chance to produce his own show. In return, Dixon says he was pressured into a toxic and sexually aggressive environment.
The actor claims Perry first noticed him at a party in 2019. At the time, Dixon was working as part of the event staff. Perry later offered him an audition. Dixon initially appeared on Perry’s series Ruthless before landing a larger role in The Oval.
The lawsuit says things changed after that. Perry allegedly started sending Dixon inappropriate messages. One message included in the lawsuit asked, “What’s it going to take for you to have guiltless sex?”
As the messages became more frequent, Perry allegedly began offering Dixon a more visible role on the show. Dixon says he tried to stay polite while keeping his distance. The lawsuit claims Perry warned him that if he didn’t respond to the advances, his character would be written off.
Dixon also says he experienced multiple sexual assaults. In one case, Perry allegedly pulled off Dixon’s clothing, touched him without consent, and tried to force himself on him. Dixon says he said “No” clearly, and only after changing the topic was he able to calm the situation.
The next day, according to the lawsuit, Perry apologized and promised to help Dixon with a new pilot called Losing It. Dixon later received a pay raise, which the lawsuit claims was meant to silence him.
The actor says he stayed quiet out of fear. He was worried that speaking out would lead to losing his job. Even though Perry bought the rights to Losing It, Dixon believes Perry never planned to sell or produce it. Instead, he says Perry used the project to control him.
The complaint also describes more unwanted advances. In one case, while Dixon was staying in a guest room at Perry’s home, Perry allegedly climbed into bed with him and groped him without permission.
Trying to escape the situation, Dixon moved from Atlanta, where Perry’s studio is located, to Los Angeles. In 2024, Dixon filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. When no action was taken by the show’s producers, he decided to leave the show for good.
Tyler Perry’s lawyer, Matthew Boyd, has denied the claims. He called them false and suggested the lawsuit is part of a scam. “Tyler will not be shaken down,” said Boyd in a public statement, “and we are confident these fabricated claims will fail.”
Dixon, who has publicly come forward, says the emotional toll of the abuse forced him to act. He is now seeking justice not only for himself but also to stop abuse of power in the entertainment industry.
The Oval, created, written, and directed by Perry, is a political drama aired on BET. Tyler Perry is known for creating the Madea film series and has built a large media production business. He has also acted in several major films, including Gone Girl and Don’t Look Up.
The legal case continues to develop. No court date has been announced yet.
