Hollywood filmmaker and media mogul Tyler Perry is facing a $260 million sexual assault lawsuit filed by actor Derek Dixon, who appeared in Perry’s BET drama series The Oval.
Dixon, known for playing the character Dale, accused Perry of crossing professional boundaries and subjecting him to harassment that left him fearful for his career.
In his first on-camera interview with ABC News on September 9, 2025, Dixon detailed alleged incidents that took place at Perry’s Atlanta residence.
“He pulled down my underwear and grabbed my buttocks,” Dixon claimed, adding, “I was under constant stress, scared I’d lose my job or be killed off the show if I didn’t comply.”
Dixon, who joined Perry’s productions in 2020, explained that the lawsuit seeks damages for both his financial losses and as a deterrent against further misconduct.
“Part of that number is my lost job, my lost income, the loss of a show. The other part of that is a deterrent for how do you stop a billionaire who won’t stop themselves from doing this,” he said.
