Tyler Perry is facing serious allegations in a new lawsuit that accuses the Hollywood mogul of sexual harassment, workplace gender violence, and sexual assault. Filed in Los Angeles last week, the suit comes from actor Derek Dixon, who claims that Perry misused his power and influence to create a “coercive, sexually exploitative dynamic” on the sets of his shows Ruthless and The Oval.
According to the complaint, Dixon says Perry promised him career advancement but instead subjected him to a pattern of escalating harassment, assault, and retaliation. The actor alleges that the abuse occurred while Perry had direct authority over his employment, salary, and creative opportunities, and that things took a dark turn when Dixon didn’t return Perry’s alleged advances.
Tyler Perry, known for his Madea movie empire and as one of Hollywood’s most influential figures, runs a massive film and TV studio in Atlanta and maintains a key partnership with the Oprah Winfrey Network. Many major film studios regularly use his facilities.
However, Perry has denied all allegations, with his lawyer blasting the lawsuit as a blatant “shakedown.” In a fiery statement, Perry's 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 lawsuit paints a disturbing picture, alleging Perry has a “troubling pattern of exploiting vulnerable male actors and employees.” It places him alongside notorious figures like Harvey Weinstein, Bill Cosby, R. Kelly, and Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, claiming that success and wealth have emboldened Perry to believe he can get whatever he wants.
The suit further claims, “Tyler Perry has been using his power and influence to molest, abuse, and sexually assault impressionable and vulnerable employees and actors who look to him for guidance and mentorship.”
Their first meeting allegedly happened in 2019, during the grand opening of Perry’s studio, where Dixon was working for an events company. The complaint says Perry picked Dixon out of a crowd and began inquiring about his job and whether he was an actor. Soon after, Perry started texting him, asking about his aspirations and goals, and later offered him a small role on one of his shows — suggesting it “could get a lot bigger,” which the lawsuit claims was the start of a quid pro quo setup.
After landing that role, Dixon claims he was invited to Perry’s home. They drank and talked, and Perry allegedly convinced Dixon to stay the night. According to the lawsuit, “Dixon agreed and was escorted to a separate guest room, not knowing this was a ruse to allow Perry to assault him.” He says he went to bed in just his underwear, only to feel someone slip in behind him and start touching him sexually, focusing on his inner thigh.
The complaint details multiple sexual assault incidents, including one where Perry allegedly forcibly removed Dixon’s clothing, groped his buttocks, and tried to force himself on him. The suit includes text messages and communications between the two, including sexually suggestive and flirtatious messages from Perry that Dixon appears to have attempted to reject.
Dixon is now seeking at least $260 million in damages, claiming the abuse and retaliation left lasting impacts on his personal and professional life.