American Actor Derek Dixon has filed a $260-million (R4.7-billion) lawsuit against Madea filmmaker Tyler Perry. Dixon is alleging sexual harassment, assault, workplace gender violence, and retaliation between 2019 and 2021.
He filed the lawsuit on June 13 in Los Angeles County Superior Court.
Dixon claims Perry exploited his influence to coerce vulnerable actors, including himself, into inappropriate situations.
Lawsuit ‘a scam’
Perry’s legal team has denied the allegations, labelling the lawsuit a “scam” and vowing to fight it.
Dixon, known for his role as Dale in Perry’s BET series The Oval, met Perry in 2019 at an event for Tyler Perry Studios’ opening in Atlanta.
The lawsuit states Perry asked about Dixon’s acting goals and requested his phone number. This led led to roles in Ruthless and The Oval. Dixon appeared in 85 episodes of these shows from 2021 to 2025.
The complaint alleges that in January 2020, at Perry’s Atlanta home, “Perry entered the guest room where Dixon was staying”. He allegedly touched his thighs, and made unwanted advances, which Dixon rejected.
Further incidents, including alleged groping in 2020 and 2021 during a Bahamas cast trip, are cited. Perry allegedly sent “suggestive text messages” to pressure Dixon.
Sexually exploitative dynamic
Dixon’s lawsuit claims Perry used professional promises, like producing Dixon’s pilot, to manipulate him. He stated that, “Perry leveraged his authority to create a sexually exploitative dynamic”.
Dixon alleges retaliation, including being blocklisted after resisting, leading him to quit The Oval in 2024. He filed an EEOC complaint, citing emotional and physical distress, including “insomnia and low cortisol levels”.
Perry’s attorney, Matthew Boyd, responded to People magazine.
“This is an individual who got close to Tyler Perry for what now appears to be nothing more than setting up a scam. Tyler will not be shaken down, and we are confident these fabricated claims will fail.”
Sources close to Perry, per TMZ, called the allegations “baseless,” emphasising his intent to fight.
