Acclaimed filmmaker and studio mogul Tyler Perry is facing a massive $260 million lawsuit filed by actor Derek Dixon, who starred in two of Perry’s BET+ shows—The Oval and Ruthless. In a detailed complaint filed on Friday, June 13, 2025, in Los Angeles County Superior Court, Dixon accuses Perry of multiple serious offenses, including quid pro quo sexual harassment, sexual assault, sexual battery, retaliation, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
The lawsuit outlines a disturbing pattern that Dixon says began with promises of professional advancement, but quickly escalated into repeated incidents of unwanted sexual advances, coercion, and psychological manipulation.
How They Met: From Opportunity to Alleged Abuse
According to the 40-page legal filing, Derek Dixon met Tyler Perry in September 2019, during the grand opening event for Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta, Georgia. At the time, Dixon was working the event and reportedly caught Perry’s attention. Shortly afterward, the two exchanged contact details.
Over the following weeks and months, Perry allegedly initiated regular communication with Dixon, including a growing number of text messages. Many of these texts, according to the lawsuit, contained sexually suggestive content, while also offering career advancement and life-changing opportunities in the entertainment industry.
The Promise of Fame and the Start of Trouble
By November 2019, Perry allegedly offered Dixon a small role on the BET+ show Ruthless, and later that year, offered him a series regular role on The Oval, a political drama also created and produced by Perry.
However, Dixon claims that the professional opportunity came with a dark price. The lawsuit alleges that Perry created a “coercive, sexually exploitative dynamic”—dangling Dixon’s role and character arc as leverage to obtain sexual favors.
Dixon further claims that after initially resisting Perry’s advances, he was pressured into more uncomfortable situations. For example, he says Perry allegedly warned him that his character “Dale” could be written off if he didn’t cooperate sexually. This warning later materialized when Dale was shot four times in the chest in the season finale of The Oval.
Multiple Alleged Incidents of Assault
January 2020: First Alleged Sexual Assault
Dixon says the first serious incident happened at Perry’s home in January 2020. He had been invited to Perry’s residence under the pretense of discussing career opportunities. After consuming alcohol, Dixon claims Perry entered his guest room at night and allegedly sexually assaulted him while he was in bed, initiating contact that Dixon says was both non-consensual and traumatizing.
April 2020: On-Set Groping
Another incident reportedly took place in Perry’s trailer during filming. After a scene where Dixon’s character was shot, Perry allegedly invited Dixon to his private trailer and pinned him against a wall, groping his buttocks aggressively. Dixon describes this moment as deeply humiliating and another violation of his bodily autonomy.
October 2020: Cast Trip to the Bahamas
Dixon claims the abuse extended beyond set environments. During a cast trip to the Bahamas in October 2020, Perry allegedly groped him inappropriately again in a non-professional setting, reinforcing what Dixon describes as a hostile and sexually manipulative work environment.
Long-Term Mental and Physical Effects
Dixon says the repeated abuse took a severe toll on his health. By December 2020, he had visited a physician and reported symptoms including acute stress, insomnia, stomach problems, and dangerously low cortisol levels. These symptoms reportedly led to a diagnosis of severe stress disorder, and Dixon was prescribed the antidepressant Zoloft.
The mental toll continued to worsen in mid-2021, when Dixon alleged another sexual assault occurred—this time during a meeting at Perry’s house to discuss Dixon’s personal project, a TV pilot titled Losing It. Perry had previously expressed interest in producing the project. But during the meeting, Dixon says Perry again tried to coerce him, resulting in another instance of alleged assault.
Following this meeting, Dixon claims he fell into severe depression, experiencing PTSD, persistent anxiety, and nausea, requiring further medical and psychological support.
Career Impact and Alleged Retaliation
The lawsuit claims that Dixon was repeatedly manipulated with promises of fame and wealth. At one point, Perry’s team allegedly attempted to “smooth things over” by offering Dixon a raise to return to The Oval, and agreeing to buy the rights to his Losing It pilot. However, Dixon says these promises were a tactic to keep him quiet.
In January 2023, Dixon informed Perry he would be moving to California, seeking distance and a new start. Though he continued working on The Oval, he says he ultimately left during its final season. This decision, Dixon claims, resulted in a financial loss of around $400,000, due to forfeited earnings and canceled projects.
Legal Action and Specific Claims
Dixon’s lawsuit demands a jury trial and seeks at least $260 million in damages. The legal claims listed in the complaint include:
- Quid pro quo sexual harassment
- Sexual battery
- Sexual assault
- Intentional infliction of emotional distress
- Retaliation
- Violation of California’s Gender Violence Act
The actor’s legal team argues that Perry abused his position of power and influence in the industry, exploiting Dixon’s career ambitions and subjecting him to escalating harassment and psychological trauma.
Tyler Perry’s Response
In a statement to source , Perry’s attorney Matthew Boyd firmly rejected the accusations, stating:
“This is an individual who got close to Tyler Perry for what now appears to be nothing more than setting up a scam.”
Boyd continued, saying that Perry “will not be shaken down” and is confident that these “fabricated claims of harassment will fail.”
What’s Next?
As of now, no court date has been set, and Perry has not filed a formal legal response to the complaint in court records. However, the lawsuit has already drawn significant public attention due to the seriousness of the allegations and Perry’s high-profile reputation in Hollywood and media.
If the case proceeds to trial, it may involve high-level testimonies, internal communications, and evaluations of behind-the-scenes conduct within Perry’s BET+ productions.
The lawsuit represents a serious turning point in the career of both the accuser and the accused. While Tyler Perry has long been regarded as a media mogul and philanthropist, these allegations—if proven—could profoundly impact his reputation and business relationships.
At the same time, Derek Dixon’s willingness to come forward with such extensive and graphic allegations underscores ongoing issues surrounding power imbalances, sexual exploitation, and retaliation in the entertainment industry. As the legal process unfolds, the case is likely to be closely watched for both its legal ramifications and its broader cultural significance.
The information is Collected from ABC News and Times Now.
