Award-winning filmmaker and creator of BET’s hit series The Oval, Tyler Perry, is facing a staggering Ksh33.6 billion ($260 million) lawsuit filed by actor Derek Dixon.
The bombshell allegations, lodged on 13 June at the Los Angeles Superior Court, accuse Perry and Tyler Perry Studios of long-standing sexual harassment, assault, and retaliation.
In the 46-page complaint, Dixon, known for his role as Dale in the show, claims that Perry first approached him in 2019 with inappropriate propositions, allegedly offering acting roles in exchange for sexual favours.
The lawsuit, according to Daily Beast, cites explicit messages from Perry.
According to Dixon, the situation escalated from suggestive messages to physical misconduct, allegedly taking place in Perry’s Georgia home, on-set trailers, and production locations.
He accuses the media mogul of groping and forcibly removing his undergarments, stating that his continued employment was contingent on compliance with Perry’s advances.
Describing the experience as a “coercive back-and-forth,” Dixon claims he feared being written off the show if he resisted.
The actor says the alleged abuse led to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and severe financial loss estimated at over Ksh51.7 million ($400,000).
After filing a formal complaint with the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in 2024 and receiving no meaningful response, he says he was compelled to resign.
Perry’s legal team has vehemently denied the allegations, branding them as “entirely false” and a “fabricated shakedown” motivated by financial gain. The team has vowed to challenge the claims in court.
The lawsuit, which names Tyler Perry Studios as a co-defendant, could have serious implications for Perry’s public image as a pioneer of Black empowerment and storytelling.
As the entertainment industry continues to confront issues of abuse and accountability, the magnitude and detail of Dixon’s allegations have sparked intense public and media interest.