Tyler Perry Sued for Sexual Assault by ‘The Oval’ Actor — Denies Allegations, Calls It a “Scam”
Tyler Perry, one of Hollywood’s most powerful creators and a longstanding symbol of Black entertainment success, is now at the center of serious legal controversy. Actor Derek Dixon, known for his role as Dale on Perry’s BET series The Oval, has filed a $260 million lawsuit accusing Perry and Tyler Perry Studios of sexual assault, sexual harassment, and workplace misconduct — a claim that Perry’s legal team is categorically denying.
Allegations Spanning Multiple Years
According to court documents obtained by Media Take Out, Dixon claims his relationship with Perry began in 2019, when the filmmaker reportedly picked him out from a crowd at an event, offered him a role, and began building a connection that, at first, seemed professional.
Dixon says he was given a small part in Ruthless, then later invited to Perry’s Atlanta home in 2020, where the first alleged inappropriate incident occurred. He claims he drank too much, fell asleep in a guest room, and awoke to Perry allegedly touching his thigh. Though he says he rejected Perry’s advances, he also claims Perry continued to pursue him with sexually suggestive messages and behavior.
From “Friendship” to Alleged Harassment
After landing a recurring role on The Oval, Dixon alleges Perry escalated the sexual tone of their interactions, with texts inquiring about his sexuality and explicit messages describing sexual scenarios. Dixon claims Perry once wrote, “No straight man would be going on walks with you or cooking dinner for you unless they wanted to fk you. I would fk you.”
He also alleges the character he played — a gay, homeless clerk — mirrored Perry’s supposed desires for a real-life partner: dependent, loyal, and available. Feeling cornered and fearful for his job, Dixon says he never reported Perry directly, but continued to endure inappropriate behavior to preserve his career.
Alleged Assault in 2021 and Formal Complaint in 2024
The most aggressive claim in the lawsuit stems from June 2021, when Dixon says Perry entered the guest house where he was staying, pulled down his underwear, groped him, and said, “Relax and just let it happen.” Dixon says he changed the subject to avoid further escalation.
By June 2024, Dixon filed a formal complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and officially left The Oval, saying the environment had become intolerable.
Perry’s Legal Team Fires Back
Tyler Perry’s attorney, Matthew Boyd, has issued a strong denial, calling the lawsuit a baseless shakedown attempt. In a statement , Boyd said:
“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.”
What’s Next?
As of now, Tyler Perry himself has not commented publicly beyond his legal counsel’s statement. No criminal charges have been filed, and the case remains a civil matter. However, the sheer scale of the lawsuit — $260 million — and the prominence of those involved will undoubtedly make this one of the most closely watched legal battles in Hollywood.
This comes as Perry is continuing to expand his production empire, with new projects, including Mea Culpa and Black, White & Blue, and continued development at Tyler Perry Studios, one of the largest production facilities in the U.S.