Tyler Perry Hit with $260M Lawsuit by ‘The Oval’ Actor Derek Dixon
Dixon alleges harassment, assault, and career retaliation by Perry — and he’s taking it to a jury
June 17 EST: Tyler Perry, Hollywood’s one-man production empire and the face behind Madea, The Oval, and a studio the size of a city, is now facing serious heat — not from critics, but from the courts.
Derek Dixon, best known to BET viewers as Dale from The Oval and a familiar face on Ruthless, has filed a jaw-dropping $260 million lawsuit against Perry and Tyler Perry Studios. The allegations? A laundry list of the worst kind: sexual harassment, assault, retaliation, and what Dixon describes as quid pro quo pressure — the kind where career favors allegedly came with strings.
The suit, filed in Los Angeles this week, claims Perry not only crossed lines — but did it more than once.
“You’re Lucky to Be Here” — Allegedly
Let’s rewind. According to the complaint, it all started in September 2019, when Dixon says he was personally recruited by Perry at the glitzy grand opening of Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta. By January 2020, he claims Perry invited him to his home — not for a table read, but for what Dixon says turned into an unwanted groping.
And that wasn’t the end. The lawsuit lays out two more alleged incidents — one during a cast trip to the Bahamas in October 2020, and another at Perry’s home in June 2021. In each case, Dixon claims Perry made advances, and when they were rebuffed, the tone changed.
The most damning claim? That Perry hinted Dixon’s character arc — as in, whether he lived or died on The Oval — was tied to how “cooperative” he was. Dixon says he resisted. His character was eventually killed off. You can do the math.
From Primetime to PTSD
Dixon’s not just suing for lost screen time. He says the emotional fallout from all of this — anxiety, depression, full-blown PTSD — led to months of therapy, a Zoloft prescription, and a slow, painful exit from the role that put him on the map.
According to the lawsuit, he’s out about $400,000 in earnings, and he’s asking for $260 million in damages. That’s blockbuster money — but if even parts of the case stick, it’s not just Perry’s wallet that could take a hit. It’s his carefully curated legacy as Hollywood’s most prolific, self-made success story.
Perry Responds — and He’s Not Mincing Words
Perry hasn’t spoken publicly (yet), but his lawyer Matthew Boyd came out swinging. He called the allegations “completely fabricated”, said the suit was nothing more than a “shakedown”, and made it clear they’ll fight this in court.
No word from BET — the network that’s practically built its primetime slate around Perry’s shows — and no confirmation yet on when a first hearing might land.
The Bigger Picture
Now, to be clear: these are allegations, not verdicts. But it’s a big deal when a TV lead files a case like this, especially when the name in the headline is Tyler Perry, a man whose brand is practically synonymous with “overachiever.” He owns his studio, writes his shows, casts his actors — and has often been praised for giving Black creatives opportunities the traditional system hasn’t.
That’s part of what makes this moment so loaded. Perry’s not just a power player; he’s an institution. But institutions are being reexamined. And if the lawsuit progresses, it could raise uncomfortable questions about what happens behind the scenes of TV’s most watched cable dramas.
What comes next? Likely months of filings, public statements, and possibly a trial. Dixon is asking for a jury trial, which means this could go fully public — fast.
Until then, Hollywood’s watching. And so are fans.
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A bi-coastal pop culture critic and former indie screenwriter, Gia covers Hollywood, streaming wars, and subculture shifts with razor wit and Gen Z intuition. If it’s going viral, she already knew about it.
