Renowned filmmaker and media mogul Tyler Perry has been hit with a $260 million lawsuit by actor Derek Dixon, who has accused him of s3xual assault, harassment, and professional retaliation during their time working together on BET’s The Oval and Ruthless
The lawsuit, filed on June 13, 2025 in Los Angeles, outlines a series of alleged incidents spanning from January 2020 to June 2021, beginning shortly after Perry and Dixon were introduced through mutual industry contacts.
According to Dixon, Perry made his first sexual advance during a hospitality visit to his home in Georgia in early 2020. He further claims that during a cast trip to the Bahamas later that year and at a separate meeting in mid-2021, Perry allegedly groped him and continued making unwanted sexual advances.
The suit alleges that Perry sent explicit messages and pressured Dixon for sexual favors, suggesting that his role in the show could be impacted based on his response. Dixon claims that Perry offered him career advancement in exchange for compliance and retaliated when he refused.
As a result, Dixon says he experienced significant emotional and psychological distress, including PTSD, anxiety, and insomnia, for which he is now on medication. He also claims to have lost nearly $400,000 after stepping away from the show’s final season due to the alleged abuse.
In response, Perry has vehemently denied the allegations. His attorney, Matthew Boyd, called the lawsuit “completely fabricated,” describing it as a “shakedown” attempt. “Mr. Perry will not be extorted,” Boyd stated, adding that they are confident the claims will be proven baseless.
The case is currently pending in court and has sparked widespread public attention, raising questions about power dynamics and accountability within the entertainment industry.
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The story can not be completely fabricated. There’s a lot going on in Hollywood. I hope he wins this case