Tyler Perry Responds After Hit with $260M Sexual Assault Lawsuit

*Acclaimed filmmaker and actor Tyler Perry is embroiled in a $260 million lawsuit filed by Derek Dixon, an actor known for his role as Dale in Perry’s television series “The Oval.”

As TMZ reports, Dixon’s legal complaint accuses Perry of a prolonged campaign of workplace sexual harassment, assault, and retaliation, allegations that Perry has vehemently denied. According to the lawsuit, Dixon first met Perry in 2019 while working for an event company tasked with organizing the grand opening of Tyler Perry Studios. Dixon alleges that Tyler selected him from the crowd, requested his phone number with the prospect of a potential role, and they subsequently exchanged contact details.

Perry later cast Dixon in “Ruthless” and began sending what Dixon describes as “strange and untowardly” messages. In January 2020, Perry allegedly invited Dixon to his Georgia home, where, after drinks and conversation, he offered Dixon a guest room and assaulted him that night.

Following the incident, Dixon claims he attempted to distance himself by ignoring Perry’s increasingly aggressive calls and texts, ABC News reports. The lawsuit states that Perry then offered Dixon a role in “The Oval,” which Dixon accepted out of fear that rejecting Perry’s advances could jeopardize his career. Per TMZ, “… it was around this time that Tyler also started firing off sexually suggestive texts … including asking what Drew’s sexual preferences were, and telling him he has sex with men,” the outlet writes. 

“Dixon immediately understood that his job security depended on his ‘relationship’ with Perry,” the lawsuit asserts. Tensions escalated after filming a scene where Dixon’s character was shot, hinting at his potential exit from the show.

The complaint describes a subsequent assault when Perry reportedly invited Dixon to his trailer, posed inappropriate questions, and attacked him again. “As soon as Derek Dixon left the trailer following Perry’s violent assault, Dixon became severely nauseous and extremely anxious about his job, careers and livelihood,” the suit states. Another alleged assault occurred during a cast party on Perry’s private island in the Bahamas.

By December 2020, Dixon’s health deteriorated due to Perry’s “continued pattern of sexual harassment,” leading to an antidepressant prescription by early 2021. That same year, Perry allegedly assaulted Dixon during a meeting about the actor’s proposed show, “Losing It.” Seeking distance, Dixon moved to California in 2023, but claims Perry continued to promise to produce “Losing It” to silence Dixon and cover up his actions.

This is shocking! An actor, Derek Dixon, has hit Tyler Perry with a huge lawsuit filled with claims of harassment and sexual assault. pic.twitter.com/uqxZc7HtKd

— Michelle (@Bigbrother_all) June 17, 2025

Dixon’s attorneys told ABC, “At this point Mr. Dixon has no comment. We believe the complaint speaks for itself.”

Perry’s attorney, Matthew Boyd, responded, “This is an individual who got close to Tyler Perry for what now appears to be nothing more than setting up a scam. But Tyler will not be shaken down and we are confident these fabricated claims of harassment will fail.”