Tyler Perry Sexual Assault Shock — Media Mogul, 55, Sued for $260MILLION by Fellow Male Actor Over 'Abuse and Harassment'
Tyler Perry has become embroiled in a sexual assault lawsuit after a fellow actor who is seeking $260million in damages sued him..
June 18 2025, Published 9:02 a.m. ET
Tyler Perry is being sued by a male actor over sexual assault and harassment claims which span across several years.
RadarOnline.com can reveal Derek Dixon has filed a serious lawsuit against the media mogul, 55, after the pair worked together on The Oval which was created by Perry back in 2019.
Close Ties With Meghan And Harry
Perry has a string of A-list associates, including Meghan Markle and Prince Harry.
Perry, who is close friends with Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, has been accused of sexual assault, sexual harassment and sexual battery among other allegations, according to court documents.
But his team have been quick to deny the claims, branding the lawsuit a "scam."
Court documents filed in Los Angeles Superior Court claim Dixon and Perry first met at an event back in 2019.
Dixon alleges Perry hand picked him out of a crowd and asked for his phone number so he could get him an acting role.
Perry Invited Actor To Atlanta Home
The incidents allegedly took place inside Perry's Atlanta mansion.
At this point, the Californian actor had not had a role in any major acting project.
Shortly after their first conversation, the pair worked together in a show called Ruthless.
After filming wrapped up, Dixon claims Perry invited him round to his Atlanta home.
During the evening, Dixon says he became too drunk and asked to sleep in a spare room at Perry's home.
The budding actor then alleges Perry followed him into the bed and started to touch his thighs, according to the court documents.
Dixon rejected any advances but claims the director remained interested.
'Sexually Suggestive Texts'
Perry got Derek Dixon a role in 'The Oval,' despite him having no real acting experience.
Following the alleged incident, the pair would work together again a few months later when Dixon landed the role of Dale in The Oval.
Perry would then begin to send sexually suggestive texts to Dixon, the court docs state.
These allegedly included him asking about his sexual preferences.
Dixon said he found the messages were "strange and untowardly" but as he was new to the industry didn't want to report them.
He also claims he feared his career would be over if he did voice his concerns at the time.
Instead, the actor says he responded by saying he wasn't "the sexual type."
These sexually charged messages would continue on for years, Dixon alleges.
Perry is accused of grabbing Dixon's throat as things 'turned physical.'
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At one point, contact turned physical, according to the court documents, as Perry is accused of grabbing Dixon's throat.
Then in June 2021, Dixon was again staying at Tyler's Atlanta home when he was allegedly groped.
Dixon was staying in the guest house and wearing only underwear when he claims Perry came in to the room to say goodnight.
The pair shared a hug before Perry allegedly pulled down Dixon's briefs, grabbed at his backside and told him to "relax."
According to the suit, Dixon filed a complaint with Equal Employment and Opportunity Commission in June 2024.
He would later quit The Oval as he stated he could no longer deal with the alleged sexual harassment.
Perry's legal team gave branded the lawsuit a 'scam'.
Dixon is now suing Tyler and Tyler Perry Studios for quid pro quo over the accusations.
He wrote in the suit: "Just like Harvey Weinstein, Bill Cosby, R. Kelly, Sean ‘P-Diddy’ Combs, Kevin Spacey, Roger Ailes, and many others in the industry, Mr. Perry’s success has led him to believe that money and influence can get him whatever he wants."
Dixon is seeking a massive $260million in damages.
Matthew Boyd, an attorney for Perry, responded to the complaint in a statement: "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."
