Actor Derek Dixon has come forward publicly for the first time since filing a $260 million lawsuit against entertainment mogul Tyler Perry, accusing him of repeated sexual harassment and assault during his time working on Perry’s BET series The Oval. Perry has denied the allegations, with his legal team calling Dixon’s claims “fabricated” and “part of a scam.”
Dixon, who portrayed the character Dale in 85 episodes of The Oval between 2021 and 2025, sat down for an exclusive interview with ABC News, describing his decision to break his silence. “I wanted to speak out and not stay silent about it anymore,” he said. Dixon claims Perry’s behavior escalated from inappropriate text messages to physical incidents, including one in which he says Perry climbed into bed with him uninvited and another where he alleges Perry forcibly pulled down his underwear and groped him.
The lawsuit alleges Perry leveraged Dixon’s career against him, threatening to kill off his character if Dixon did not comply. At the end of season two, Dixon’s character was shot multiple times, which he viewed as a warning. “For me, that was his way of showing his power over us and our careers,” Dixon said. The actor also claims Perry promised to produce a pilot Dixon had written but ultimately used it as leverage to maintain control.
In response, Perry’s attorney issued a statement to ABC News, describing Dixon as “an individual who got close to Tyler Perry for what now appears to be nothing more than setting up a scam.” The statement continued, “Tyler will not be shaken down, and we are confident these fabricated claims of harassment will fail.” Perry has not filed a formal legal response in court.
Dixon, who last spoke with Perry in spring 2024 before leaving the series later that year, says the ordeal has left him struggling with anxiety and depression. He maintains that his lawsuit is not about money but about accountability and preventing similar harm to other actors. “Justice would look like making a change so something like this won’t happen to another actor in the industry,” Dixon said.
The case remains ongoing, with no trial date set.
Source: ABC News
