Key Points:
- Actor Derek Dixon claims Tyler Perry sexually harassed and assaulted him from 2020 onward.
- The alleged incidents happened at Perry’s home and through explicit messages.
- Dixon is now suing the Hollywood mogul for $260 million in damages.
Hollywood Star Tyler Perry Accused of Sexual Misconduct by Co-Star
Famous American filmmaker and actor, Tyler Perry, is facing serious accusations from one of his cast members. Derek Dixon, who stars in Perry’s TV show The Oval, has filed a shocking lawsuit against him. Dixon says Perry sexually harassed and assaulted him several times over the past few years. The actor is now asking for $260 million in damages.
The court papers, obtained by Page Six, claim that Perry first made sexual advances toward Dixon in January 2020. The alleged incident took place at Perry’s house in Atlanta, Georgia.
“He Got Into My Bed,” Dixon Claims
Dixon says Perry invited him to his home, where he ended up drinking too much. He then stayed in one of the guest rooms. According to the lawsuit, Perry later entered Dixon’s room, got into bed with him, and began touching his thighs. Dixon says he rejected Perry’s advances right away.
The actor says he first met Perry in 2019 at a public event. There, Perry picked him out from the crowd and asked for his number. Later, Perry gave him a role in The Oval. But Dixon now says Perry started sending him sexual text messages soon after.
Alleged Threats and Pressure to Stay Silent
Dixon adds that Perry asked him about his sexual preferences and told him he has sex with men. He also claims Perry once said, “I would f**k you,” in one of the many explicit messages included in the lawsuit.
He visited Perry again later in 2020, but only because he feared Perry might remove his character from the show. During this visit, he says Perry made sexual comments, grabbed him by the throat, and said, “Wow! Look how excited you just got!” Dixon says he was shocked and tried to calm the situation.
He says he stayed quiet out of fear. He believed rejecting Perry directly could cost him his job and acting future.
Perry’s Lawyer Speaks Out
Tyler Perry, who created and leads The Oval, has not made any public statement himself. But his lawyer, Matthew Boyd, strongly denied the claims. He said Dixon is trying to pull off a scam.
“This is an individual who got close to Tyler Perry for what now appears to be nothing more than setting up a scam,” Boyd said in a statement to Page Six. “Tyler will not be shaken down and we are confident these fabricated claims of harassment will fail.”
TMZ was the first to report the lawsuit. Perry is best known for creating and starring as “Madea” in several films. He shares a son with his ex-girlfriend, Gelila Bekele. The couple ended their relationship in 2020.
This case has stirred strong reactions online and could lead to more investigations. For now, fans and the public are watching closely to see what happens next.
