Tyler Perry Hit With $260 Million Sexual Assault Lawsuit by Former The Oval Actor Derek Dixon
By Kamal Yalwa: September 10, 2025 – ATLANTA, USA Renowned filmmaker and media mogul Tyler Perry is facing a $260 million sexual assault and harassment lawsuit filed by actor Derek Dixon, who alleges he was abused and manipulated while working on Perry’s BET drama The Oval. Dixon, best known for his role as Dale on the series, went public with the allegations in an emotional interview with ABC News on September 9. He claims Perry created a toxic and coercive professional environment that left him fearing for his job and personal safety. According to Dixon, the abuse included a disturbing incident at Perry’s Atlanta residence where the filmmaker allegedly pulled down his underwear and grabbed his buttocks. “I was under constant stress, scared I’d lose my job or be killed off the show if I didn’t comply,” Dixon said during the interview. The $260 million lawsuit, filed in June 2025, is based on claims of sexual assault, workplace retaliation, breach of contract, and emotional distress. Dixon explained the figure includes both compensation for lost wages and damages, as well as a deterrent meant to hold powerful industry figures accountable. “Part of that number is my lost job, my lost income, the loss of a show. The other part of that is a deterrent — how do you stop a billionaire who won’t stop themselves from doing this?” Dixon stated. He also accused Perry of reneging on a promise to produce a pilot script Dixon had written — a project he claims Perry still controls but never followed through on. Dixon said the decision to go public was not easy, but necessary. “I’m doing this to protect future generations of actors and creatives,” he said. “Never exploit someone’s aspirations to coerce them into a relationship. That’s unprofessional.” In response, Tyler Perry’s legal team has strongly denied the allegations. “This is an individual who got close to Tyler Perry for what now appears to be an elaborate scam,” said Perry’s attorney, Matthew Boyd. “But Tyler will not be coerced, and we are confident that these unfounded harassment claims will not succeed.” Dixon first filed a formal complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in January 2024, several months before leaving The Oval. His claims and subsequent legal action have intensified scrutiny around power dynamics, workplace harassment, and accountability in the entertainment industry. The lawsuit is likely to draw wider attention as it unfolds, particularly given Perry’s towering influence in Hollywood and his reputation as a trailblazing, self-made creator. No court date has been set at this time.
