Tyler Perry is being sued for $260 million by actor and screenwriter Derek Dixon, who claims the media mogul sexually harassed him and later tried to suppress the allegations with career incentives. The case, filed last week in Los Angeles Superior Court, paints a troubling picture of alleged misconduct behind the scenes of Perry’s productions.
Dixon, who appeared in minor roles in Ruthless and featured in 85 episodes of BET’s The Oval, alleges that Perry began making inappropriate advances shortly after they met. The lawsuit details how, after Dixon joined The Oval, Perry regularly questioned his sexuality, made explicit remarks, and frequently contacted him, treating him like an on-call “pet.”
One of the most serious claims involves a night at Perry’s Atlanta home. According to the suit, Dixon was staying over after drinks when Perry allegedly groped him while he was asleep in the guest room. The lawsuit describes Dixon’s attempts to deflect Perry’s advances without jeopardizing his career.
Dixon also alleges two other instances of groping: one during a 2020 cast party in the Bahamas and another at Perry’s residence in 2021. The second incident is described as particularly aggressive.
After these events, Perry reportedly praised Dixon’s work and offered him a raise. He also expressed interest in producing a pilot for a show Dixon had written, Losing It. The lawsuit claims Perry never intended to produce the show and instead used it as leverage, promising career advancement in exchange for Dixon’s silence.
In response, Perry’s legal team dismissed the lawsuit as a setup, accusing Dixon of trying to exploit his relationship with the filmmaker for personal gain. They remain confident the case will not hold up in court.
Despite being offered a writing role later, Dixon rejected the offer and filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The EEOC’s position on the matter has not been disclosed.
By Risper Akinyi
