Tyler Perry Accused of Sexual Harassment in $260M Lawsuit Filed by Actor Derek Dixon
Actor and screenwriter Derek Dixon has filed a $260 million lawsuit against media mogul Tyler Perry, accusing him of sexual harassment, assault, and offering professional favors in exchange for silence.
Filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court, the 46-page complaint alleges that Perry made repeated unwanted advances after casting Dixon in a role on The Oval in 2019. Dixon claims that Perry lured him to his Georgia home, served him drinks, and later entered his guest room uninvited and groped him.
“Mr. Perry sought the one thing his wealth and influence could not purchase — a sexual relationship with a man who would remain silent,” the lawsuit states.
According to the complaint, the harassment continued into 2020 and 2021, including incidents during a trip to the Bahamas and further encounters at Perry’s residence. Dixon alleges that after one such incident, Perry’s lawyer offered him a raise and a chance to develop his script, Losing It — a project he now claims was never intended to be produced but used to silence him.
The lawsuit describes Perry as using job offers to maintain control over Dixon, treating him like an “on-call pet,” and compares Perry to other powerful entertainment figures accused of sexual misconduct and cover-ups.
Perry’s legal team has denied all allegations, labeling the suit a “scam” and asserting that Dixon pursued a relationship with Perry for personal gain. Dixon, who eventually cut ties with Perry, has also filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The outcome of that filing remains unknown.
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