Tyler Perry Sued for Alleged Sexual Assault by ‘The Oval’ Actor
Tyler Perry Faces Sexual Harassment Lawsuit from ‘The Oval’ Actor
Tyler Perry is facing a $260 million lawsuit from Derek Dixon, an actor who appeared in Perry’s series, The Oval and Ruthless. Dixon, who played the role of Dale, alleges sexual harassment, assault, and retaliation.
The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles, accuses Perry of exploiting his position to abuse actors seeking guidance and mentorship. Dixon claims Perry provided acting positions, show contracts, cars, and money to vulnerable men, then threatened to take it all away unless they complied with his sexual demands. The complaint states that Perry implied Dixon’s character would be killed off if he didn’t comply.
Dixon alleges multiple instances of sexual assault, including one where Perry forcibly removed his clothing and groped him.
After Dixon reported the alleged harassment, the complaint claims that no inquiry was conducted, and no steps were taken to prevent further harassment. Dixon says he was forced to quit The Oval, resulting in a $400,000 loss.
Production companies TPS Production Services and And Action LLC are also named as co-defendants in the lawsuit.
Matthew Boyd, Perry’s attorney, dismissed Dixon as someone who sought proximity to Perry with ulterior motives. “Tyler will not be shaken down and we are confident these fabricated claims of harassment will fail,” Boyd said.
The Oval, which premiered on BET in 2019, released its sixth season in January. Its spin-off, Ruthless, debuted on BET+ in March 2020. BET representatives have not yet commented.
What’s next
The case will proceed in Los Angeles County Superior Court. Further legal proceedings are expected to unfold as both sides present their arguments and evidence.