Derek Dixon, an actor known for his role on Tyler Perry’s political drama The Oval and its spinoff Ruthless, has filed a $260 million lawsuit against Perry, accusing the media mogul of sexual assault, battery, quid pro quo, and workplace sexual harassment.
The lawsuit, filed on June 13 in Los Angeles Superior Court, claims Perry exploited his power and influence in the entertainment industry to coerce Dixon into a sexually exploitative dynamic while he was a series regular on The Oval.
According to court documents obtained by The Independent, Perry promised Dixon career opportunities such as producing Dixon’s pilot and casting him in the show but retaliated professionally when Dixon refused his sexual advances. Dixon alleges that in 2020, after drinking on set, Perry climbed into bed with him and aggressively groped him in Perry’s trailer.
Perry’s attorney Matthew Boyd responded, calling the claims “fabricated” and asserting that Dixon was attempting a scam.
Dixon reportedly met Perry in September 2019 while working at an event company that organized Perry’s studio opening. The lawsuit details text messages from Perry that alternated between sexual advances and job offers. Perry allegedly asked intimate questions about Dixon’s sexual preferences and pressured him to keep their relationship secret.
Dixon also claims that Perry used the promise of producing his written show Losing It to increase Dixon’s dependence on him. In 2021, Dixon alleges another sexual assault while staying at Perry’s guest house, which led him to lock himself in a bathroom out of fear.
The trauma allegedly caused Dixon severe depression, anxiety, nausea, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Dixon seeks $260 million in damages plus legal costs.
