Actor Derek Dixon has filed a lawsuit against filmmaker and media mogul Tyler Perry, accusing him of sexual harassment, assault, and abuse of power during their professional association.
The lawsuit, which was recently made public, centres around Dixon’s time working on Perry’s popular BET drama The Oval, where he portrayed the character Dale across more than 100 episodes.
According to court documents, Dixon alleges that Perry exploited his influential position in the industry for personal gain, subjecting him to “escalating sexual harassment, assault and battery, and professional retaliation when he did not reciprocate the showbiz mogul’s unwanted advances.”
The actor claims that these alleged incidents eventually compelled him to leave the show during its sixth season. Dixon is now seeking $260 million in damages.
Originally from Raleigh, North Carolina, Derek Alexander Dixon trained in theatre and performance at Marymount Manhattan College and The Terry Schreiber Studio in New York. In addition to his work in television, Dixon is an accomplished playwright.
He was named co-winner of the 2016 Essential Theatre Playwriting Award and has authored several plays, including Homewrecker, Red Snow, Pictures of People, Work of Art, and Green Light. His stage acting credits include productions such as The Lion in Winter, Romeo and Juliet, and The Boys In The Band. He became a member of Working Title Playwrights in 2015.
Dixon’s association with Tyler Perry reportedly began in 2019, when the two met at a party organised by an events company where Dixon was employed. Following their meeting, Dixon was offered a role on The Restless, and shortly afterwards, he joined the cast of The Oval, a political drama created and produced by Perry.
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Tyler Perry, one of Hollywood’s most powerful and prolific creators, has denied all allegations through his legal representative. In a statement shared with USA Today, attorney Matthew Boyd said, “This is an individual who got close to Tyler Perry for what now appears to be nothing more than setting up a scam. But Tyler will not be shaken down, and we are confident these fabricated claims of harassment will fail.”
The case has garnered significant public attention, given Perry’s high profile and Dixon’s detailed claims, and is expected to unfold further in the coming months.
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