Tyler Perry Hit with $260M Lawsuit Over Alleged Sexual Misconduct and Harassment

By [Chaka malema] | June 21, 2025

Hollywood mogul Tyler Perry is facing a bombshell $260 million lawsuit filed by actor Derek Dixon, who accuses the acclaimed filmmaker of sexual harassment, assault, and workplace retaliation during his time on Perry’s BET series The Oval and Ruthless.

Filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on June 13, the lawsuit paints a disturbing picture of abuse and manipulation. Dixon, who played the character Dale in 85 episodes of The Oval, alleges that Perry used his power and industry status to foster a “coercive, sexually exploitative dynamic,” allegedly leveraging career opportunities in exchange for sexual favors.

According to court documents, the misconduct began in 2019 after the two met at a Tyler Perry Studios event in Atlanta. Dixon claims he was initially offered a role on Ruthless, followed by a regular part on The Oval—but under troubling conditions. The lawsuit includes screenshots of alleged explicit text messages from Perry, including sexualized comments about Dixon’s body and veiled threats, such as the suggestion that his character would be killed off if he refused Perry’s advances.

Even more disturbing are the physical allegations: Dixon claims Perry groped him, made unwanted physical contact, and at one point grabbed him by the throat.

By 2024, Dixon says he filed a formal complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). However, after no action was taken, he left The Oval, reportedly forfeiting over $400,000 in future earnings. The lawsuit also asserts that Perry has a pattern of preying on vulnerable actors and compares his behavior to disgraced Hollywood figures like Harvey Weinstein.

Perry’s legal team has strongly denied the allegations. His attorney, Matthew Boyd, dismissed the suit as “a scam” and accused Dixon of launching a calculated attempt to extort the media mogul. “This is an individual who got close to Tyler Perry for what now appears to be nothing more than setting up a scam,” Boyd said, expressing confidence that the lawsuit would not hold up in court.

The case has ignited intense public debate and widespread media coverage. Many online users have reacted with shock and disbelief, while others such as rapper 50 Cent have come to Perry’s defense, calling the lawsuit baseless. Some observers are also revisiting past allegations by actor Christian Keyes, who in 2023 alluded to misconduct by a powerful figure in Black Hollywood without naming names.

As the legal battle unfolds, this case may become a defining moment in Hollywood’s ongoing reckoning with power, consent, and accountability.