Tyler Perry sued for $260M by actor claiming sexual assault and harassment

(TNND) — Tyler Perry is being sued by an actor on his television series, "The Oval," over accusations that the filmmaker repeatedly sexually assaulted and harassed him.

Derek Dixon filed the lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court seeking at least $260 million in damages.

“Mr. Perry took his success and power and used his considerable influence in the entertainment industry to create a coercive, sexually exploitative dynamic with Mr. Dixon — initially promising him career advancement and creative opportunities, such as producing his pilot and casting him in his show, only to subject him to escalating sexual harassment, assault and battery, and professional retaliation,” the lawsuit reviewed by The Associated Press reads in part.

Perry's attorney, Matthew Boyd, told the outlet in a statement that they "are confident these fabricated claims of harassment will fail."

Perry first interacted with Dixon in 2019 when Dixon was part of the event staff at a Perry party and was later offered an audition, according to the lawsuit.

At first, Dixon appeared in a small role on Perry's show, "Ruthless," before getting a bigger role on "The Oval."

According to Dixon, Perry began sending unwanted sexual text messages. Screenshots of the texts were included in the lawsuit.

“What’s it going to take for you to have guiltless sex?” one of the messages says.

As the sexual advances became more aggressive, Dixon stated Perry offered him a more prominent role on the show.

“Dixon did his best to tiptoe around Mr. Perry’s sexual aggression while keeping on Mr. Perry’s good side,” the lawsuit says. “Mr. Perry made it clear to Dixon that if Dixon ignored Perry or failed to engage with the sexual innuendoes, Dixon’s character would ‘die.’”

Perry was accused of eventually sexually assaulting Dixon on "multiple occasions" and even "forcibly pulled off Mr. Dixon’s clothing, groped his buttocks, and attempted to force himself on Dixon."

After apologizing, Perry told Dixon he would work with him on a TV pilot Dixon was trying to produce, the lawsuit states. Perry produced and bought the rights to the pilot, called "Losing It," but the lawsuit alleges he had no intention of selling the show and was only using it for leverage.

Another alleged assault occurred when Dixon was staying at Perry's house when Perry climbed into bed with him uninvited and began groping him, according to the lawsuit.

Eventually, Dixon moved from Atlanta to Los Angeles to create distance, and in 2024, he filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. When no action was taken by the show's producers, he quit.