Los Angeles, CA — Renowned filmmaker, actor, and studio mogul Tyler Perry is facing explosive allegations and a $260 million lawsuit filed by Derek Dixon, an actor best known for his role as Dale on BET’s hit drama The Oval and its spin-off Ruthless.
In court documents filed in Los Angeles Superior Court last week and obtained by TMZ, Dixon accuses Perry of sexual harassment, sexual assault, workplace gender violence, retaliation, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
Alleged Pattern of Abuse
According to the complaint, the two met in September 2019 at Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta, where Perry allegedly offered Dixon an acting opportunity in Ruthless. Dixon claims that soon afterward, Perry began making sexual advances toward him through text messages and private meetings.
Dixon alleges that Perry coerced him into sexual encounters by dangling career promises and threatening professional retaliation if he refused. He claims that in January 2020, he was sexually assaulted at Perry’s Atlanta home and again later that year in the Bahamas. Dixon also alleges that Perry groped him in a trailer after filming The Oval.
“He made it clear that if I didn’t comply, my career would suffer,” Dixon says in the filing.
Career Retaliation
The lawsuit further claims that Perry threatened to kill off Dixon’s character on The Oval if he didn’t cooperate with Perry’s demands. Dixon’s character, Dale, was shot at the end of season one and Dixon says he was eventually written out of the show completely.
Dixon left the final season of The Oval in early 2023, which he says cost him over $400,000 in lost income. He also claims he has suffered from severe PTSD, anxiety, depression, and other health issues, for which he has received ongoing medical treatment since 2020.
Damages and Legal Action
The actor is seeking $260 million in compensatory and punitive damages, plus attorney’s fees and other relief under California’s sexual abuse and workplace harassment laws. His legal team is also pursuing a jury trial.
Perry’s Response
A spokesperson for Tyler Perry forcefully denied the allegations, calling the lawsuit an attempt at extortion. Perry’s attorney, Matthew Boyd, issued a statement saying:
“This is a meritless shakedown. Mr. Perry will vigorously defend himself against these false claims and looks forward to clearing his name in court.”
Neither BET nor its parent company has commented publicly on the lawsuit.
Next Steps
A court hearing date has not yet been set. If the case proceeds to trial, it could mark one of the largest sexual misconduct lawsuits in Hollywood in recent years, involving one of the industry’s most influential figures.
