In a lawsuit that’s already shaking up Hollywood, actor Derek Dixon is suing Tyler Perry for a whopping $260 million, alleging that the entertainment tycoon sexually harassed him, coerced him, and then retaliated against him.
Dixon, whom fans may remember from portraying Dale in Perry’s BET series The Oval and its spinoff drama Ruthless, alleges that what began as a promising professional relationship grew into an uncomfortable battle of power riddled with unwanted advances, unprofessional conduct, and emotional distress.
Perry is accused of abusing his power by trying to get Dixon to have sex with him, tempting him with professional carrots. The actor claims that Perry would send him sexually explicit messages, make inappropriate comments, and even touch him without permission. One message Perry is said to have sent posed a direct question: ‘Are you a top or a bottom?’ before he declares spontaneously, “I’m a top. You got a big dick, and when you hit the G##### right off these bottoms, they go crazy.”
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According to the suit, here is a particularly jarring turn of events in a trailer on set where Dixon says Perry sexually groped him, unprovoked. Perry is also accused of drinking and then climbing into bed with Dixon in another claimed incident. The actor maintains these were not mutual or consensual encounters and that when he did not comply, it got worse.
Dixon says his attempts to push back triggered retaliation. His character on The Oval also got shot multiple times in a season finale, suggesting that he had passed on, much to the dismay of fans. But for Dixon, the gray area was all part of the plan. He thinks it was Perry’s method of making his job feel threatened and of sending a message: Do the responsible thing or risk your job.
Complicating matters emotionally, Dixon says Perry also purchased the rights to one of his shows and promised to produce it but never did. This reinforced his dependence on Perry, both creatively and financially, and made him feel more betrayed when he felt the harassment continued.
Among the suit’s exhibits are screenshots of the messages that he says Perry sent him; some of them are graphic, others asking, and also ousted Dixon to stay quiet. It has taken a toll on Dixon, he says, psychologically damaging him and leading him to battle anxiety, depression, and even PTSD.
And Tyler Perry’s legal team is not holding back in its response. His attorney, Matthew Boyd, strongly denied the accusations were “fabricated” and argued that the entire lawsuit was a complex shakedown.
“This is a person that managed to get himself close to Tyler Perry on what seems now, a ruse or scheme to be able to get close to him and make himself a position among the ranks,” Boyd said. “But Tyler is not going to be extorted, and we look forward to challenging these false allegations in court.”
The entertainment business is paying close attention as the story unfolds. The case raises more than a few uncomfortable questions about power imbalances in Hollywood, the protection of actors, and the larger conversation about consent, no matter how powerful the names involved.
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