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An actor who labored on Tyler Perry‘s drama collection The Oval now claims that he was sexually harassed by the high-powered movie and tv mogul.
In a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Courtroom on Friday, Derek Dixon, who appeared on 85 episodes of the BET present, seeks not less than $260 million in damages.
Dixon alleges that Perry took benefit of his energy on set, subjecting his younger star to escalating sexual advances that finally reached the extent of assault.
Tyler Perry attends Tyler Perry’s Mea Culpa Premiere at The Paris Theatre on February 15, 2024 in New York Metropolis. (Photograph by Noam Galai/Getty Photographs for Netflix)
Derek Dixon claims Tyler Perry harassed and assaulted him on set
“Mr. Perry took his success and power and used his considerable influence in the entertainment industry to create a coercive, sexually exploitative dynamic with Mr. Dixon — initially promising him career advancement and creative opportunities, such as producing his pilot and casting him in his show, only to subject him to escalating sexual harassment, assault and battery, and professional retaliation,” reads the swimsuit, in keeping with TMZ.
Matthew Boyd, an legal professional for Perry, has already fired again, claiming that Dixon is merely attempting to extort his former boss.
“This is an individual who got close to Tyler Perry for what now appears to be nothing more than setting up a scam,” Boyd stated in a press release issued Tuesday.
“But Tyler will not be shaken down, and we are confident these fabricated claims of harassment will fail.”
Tyler Perry, winner of the Icon Award, poses on the Winner’s Stroll throughout The Critics Selection Affiliation’s seventh Annual Celebration of Black Cinema & Tv at Fairmont Century Plaza on December 09, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photograph by Randy Shropshire/Getty Photographs for Critics Selection Affiliation)
Dixon particulars escalating assault in stunning lawsuit claims
Final week’s submitting accommodates what Dixon claims are express textual content messages he acquired from Perry.
“What’s it going to take for you to have guiltless sex?” one of many messages says.
“Dixon did his best to tiptoe around Mr. Perry’s sexual aggression while keeping on Mr. Perry’s good side,” the lawsuit alleges.
“Mr. Perry made it clear to Dixon that if Dixon ignored Perry or failed to engage with the sexual innuendoes, Dixon’s character would ‘die.’”
The lawsuit says Perry finally sexually assaulted Dixon on “a number of events.
Tyler Perry attends the 2025 BET Awards at Peacock Theater on June 09, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photograph by Emma McIntyre/Getty Photographs)
In a single alleged incident, Perry “forcibly pulled off Mr. Dixon’s clothing, groped his buttocks, and attempted to force himself on Dixon.”
Dixon says he was finally in a position to “de-escalate” the scenario. He additionally claims that Perry later supplied him a increase and spoke of manufacturing a TV pilot with Dixon within the lead function.
The actor believes these strikes had been a part of an effort to maintain him quiet.
Dixon says he filed a grievance with the Equal Employment Alternative Fee in 2024, and when that didn’t lead to any motion from The Oval‘s producers, he stop the present.
We’ll have additional updates on this growing story as new data turns into accessible.
