Tyler Perry was accused of sexual harassment, assault and retaliation in a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles last week by Derek Dixon, an actor who worked with Perry for years.
In a complaint filed Friday, June 13, Dixon alleges that Perry created “a coercive, sexually exploitative dynamic” with Dixon while they worked on “The Oval,” a BET drama series produced by Perry.
Dixon has sued Perry for quid pro quo, sexual harassment, workplace sexual harassment, and sexual assault and battery, among other claims. He is seeking $260 million in damages and a jury trial. Representatives for Dixon pointed to the lawsuit when reached for comment.
In the complaint, Dixon accused Perry of “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 when Dixon did not reciprocate Perry’s unwanted advances,” according to the lawsuit.
Perry’s attorney, Matthew Boyd, denied any wrongdoing by Perry in a statement: “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.”
In the 46-page lawsuit, Dixon alleges that he met Perry in September 2019 while working for an event company in Atlanta organizing a party for Perry’s studio. Over the next few months, Perry allegedly texted Dixon about helping him find a job and change his life. He was offered a role as the character Dale in Perry’s show “Ruthless” in November 2019, according to the lawsuit.
The two continued to exchange messages throughout the winter, the suit says. In January 2020, months after Dixon took on the “Ruthless” role, Dixon was invited to Perry’s home in Georgia, where Perry allegedly sexually assaulted Dixon.
After the incident, Dixon ignored Perry’s messages until Perry offered him a series regular role on “The Oval,” according to the suit. “Dixon was intrigued, hoping this would be the big break he was looking for and a chance to showcase his acting talent.,” the complaint said.
In March 2020, while reading a script about his character in “The Oval,” Dixon realized his character’s fate was left uncertain, the lawsuit says. Dixon then believed that Perry would make the character die if Dixon “ignored Perry or failed to engage with the sexual innuendos,” the suit said.
Dixon also alleged that Perry aggressively groped Dixon in a sexual manner during a cast trip in October 2020.
The sexual harassment, according to the lawsuit, continued into 2021 with Perry allegedly sending Dixon photos of Dixon’s body from the set of “The Oval” with sexually suggestive comments. In June of that year, Dixon alleges, Perry invited him to his home to discuss a show that Dixon wanted to produce. He accused Perry of sexually assaulting him at that meeting.
In 2023, the lawsuit said, Dixon told Perry that he was moving away from Atlanta to California to put distance between them. Dixon’s lawsuit said he gave up a full payment of almost $400,000 when he left “The Oval” in its final season.
According to the complaint, Dixon “continued to put up with” Perry’s advances due to fear for his career.
The complaint also alleges that Dixon visited a doctor who told him he had suffered insomnia, stomach issues and levels of stress. He was supplied Zoloft to deal with the stress, according to the lawsuit.
