Actor Derek Dixon Files $260 Million Lawsuit Against Tyler Perry Alleging Sexual Assault and Harassment

Actor Derek Dixon has filed a $260 million lawsuit against media mogul Tyler Perry, alleging sexual harassment, assault, and workplace retaliation spanning their professional relationship from 2019 to 2023. The 46-page complaint, filed June 13 in Los Angeles County Superior Court, accuses Perry of creating "a coercive, sexually exploitative dynamic" while Dixon worked on Perry's shows "The Oval" and "Ruthless". Dixon alleges Perry leveraged his industry power to pressure him into sexual compliance, promising career advancement while subjecting him to escalating harassment when advances were rejected.

The Allegations

According to the lawsuit, Perry "initially promised career advancement and creative opportunities" including producing Dixon's pilot and casting him in regular television roles, only to subject him to "escalating sexual harassment, assault and battery, and professional retaliation" when Dixon didn't reciprocate advances. The complaint details Perry allegedly using Dixon's script "Losing It" as leverage, purchasing rights with "no intention of ever producing it" while holding it "over Dixon's head like the sword of Damocles".

Text messages included in court filings show Perry allegedly sending sexually explicit content, including one asking: "What's it going to take for you to have guiltless sex?". Dixon claims Perry warned that his character would "die" on "The Oval" if he "ignored Perry or failed to engage with the sexual innuendos". The lawsuit further alleges Perry referred to Dixon as his personal "pet" and demanded secrecy about their interactions.

Incident Chronology

Initial Contact (2019)

The pair first met in September 2019 when Dixon worked for an event company organizing the opening party for Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta. Perry allegedly "picked Dixon out of a crowd" and exchanged numbers, soon offering Dixon his first acting role as Dale in "Ruthless". This began what the lawsuit describes as "a series of escalating quid pro quo offers" where professional opportunities were tied to sexual compliance.

Alleged Assaults (2020-2021)

The complaint details multiple alleged assaults, beginning January 2020 when Perry invited Dixon to his Douglasville County, Georgia home. After serving drinks, Perry urged Dixon to stay overnight, then allegedly entered his guest room uninvited: "Dixon felt someone else slip into bed behind him and start rubbing Dixon's body around his inner thigh in a highly sexual and suggestive manner".

Further incidents include an October 2020 cast trip to Perry's Bahamas island where groping allegedly occurred, and a June 2021 assault at Perry's guesthouse where he "forcibly pulled off Mr. Dixon's clothing, groped his buttocks, and attempted to force himself on Dixon" despite Dixon saying "No" repeatedly. Following this incident, Perry allegedly blamed "testosterone supplements" in an apology call.

Perry's Response and Retaliation Claims

Perry's attorney Matthew Boyd issued a categorical denial, calling the lawsuit a "scam" and "shakedown": "This is an individual who got close to Tyler Perry for what now appears to be nothing more than setting up a scam. Tyler will not be shaken down and we are confident these fabricated claims will fail". Boyd suggested Dixon cultivated the relationship expressly for financial gain.

Dixon claims he experienced severe health consequences including insomnia, stomach issues, and stress requiring Zoloft prescriptions. After filing a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in 2024 yielded no action, Dixon quit "The Oval," forfeiting nearly $400,000 in earnings for the final season. The lawsuit positions this as professional retaliation following years of alleged coercion.

Legal Context and Damages

The $260 million lawsuit includes claims for quid pro quo sexual harassment, workplace sexual harassment, sexual assault and battery, gender violence, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Legal experts note the complaint frames Perry's alleged behavior within patterns seen in cases against Harvey Weinstein and Bill Cosby, stating: "Mr. Perry's success has led him to believe that money and influence can get him whatever he wants" including "a sexual relationship with a man who would remain silent".

Dixon's legal team highlights Perry's billionaire status and industry dominance through his Atlanta studio complex and partnership with Oprah Winfrey's network as factors enabling alleged misconduct. The complaint specifically references Perry's "troubling pattern of exploiting vulnerable male actors and employees", drawing parallels to recent cases involving Sean "Diddy" Combs and R. Kelly.

Industry Implications

As one of Hollywood's most powerful Black creators with a $1 billion empire, these allegations could significantly impact Perry's reputation and business operations. The entertainment industry faces renewed scrutiny over power dynamics following similar cases against Weinstein, Cosby, and Combs.

"The Oval" remains in production despite Dixon's departure, though industry analysts note potential complications for Perry's multi-platform content deals with ViacomBET and Amazon Prime. The lawsuit arrives as Hollywood grapples with revised standards for on-set behavior following SAG-AFTRA's updated intimacy coordinator requirements.

Conclusion

This $260 million lawsuit presents one of the most significant legal challenges to Tyler Perry's career, alleging systematic exploitation of industry power for sexual gratification. Dixon's detailed chronology of alleged assaults, supported by text messages and professional timelines, paints a disturbing picture of entertainment industry coercion. While Perry's legal team dismisses the claims as extortion, the case's parallels to landmark #MeToo prosecutions suggest profound implications regardless of verdict. With both careers hanging in the balance, the entertainment industry watches closely as this high-stakes legal drama unfolds.

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