Renowned filmmaker and actor Tyler Perry is facing a $260 million lawsuit from actor and screenwriter Derek Dixon, who has accused the media mogul of repeated sexual harassment and assault. The complaint, filed last week in the Los Angeles Superior Court, outlines disturbing allegations spanning from 2019 to 2021 and claims that Perry used his influence in the entertainment industry to manipulate and silence Dixon.
Dixon, who played minor roles in Perry’s show Ruthless before appearing in 85 episodes of The Oval, alleges that Perry began making unwanted sexual advances shortly after their first meeting. According to the 46-page lawsuit, Dixon claims Perry would often question his sexual orientation, send inappropriate messages, and treat him as his personal “pet.”
The lawsuit alleges the first assault occurred in Perry’s Georgia home after a night of drinking, with Dixon stating he was groped while sleeping in the guest room. Additional incidents reportedly took place at a 2020 cast party in the Bahamas and again at Perry’s house in 2021, with the latter described as “aggressive.”
Dixon claims he attempted to set boundaries without offending Perry, whom he believed held significant control over his budding career. The suit also alleges that Perry dangled career opportunities, including a promise to develop a pilot for Dixon’s script Losing It, as a means of coercion. However, Dixon asserts that Perry never intended to proceed with the project, instead using it as leverage to maintain power over him.
Despite initial support for Dixon’s script and a pay raise on The Oval, Perry allegedly offered Dixon a writing role as a fallback—an offer Dixon declined. He instead filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), although the status of that complaint remains unclear.
In response, Perry’s legal team dismissed the allegations, accusing Dixon of fabricating the claims in an attempt to extort the media mogul. They assert Perry will be vindicated in court, calling the lawsuit a “scam.”
The case draws parallels with other high-profile entertainment industry lawsuits and underscores ongoing concerns about power dynamics and abuse within Hollywood.
