Who is Derek Dixon? The ‘Oval’ actor accusing Tyler Perry of sexual assault in $260M bombshell lawsuit

Tyler Perry was accused of sexual assault and sexual harassment by actor Derek Dixon, who is suing “The Oval” series’ writer, creator and director for a whopping $260 million over sexual harassment, assault, and retaliation.

So who is the actor behind the lawsuit filed in June 2025? Below, Page Six breaks down everything you need to know about the actor, his relationship to Perry and more.

Who is Derek Dixon?

Derek Dixon is an actor who appeared as Dale in dozens of episodes of BET’s hit political drama, “The Oval.” Prior to that, his character appeared in the show’s spinoff series, “Ruthless.”

Dixon, originally from Raleigh, North Carolina, maintains a modest following on Instagram, where he posts infrequent updates.

How did Derek Dixon meet Tyler Perry?

In court docs obtained by Page Six, Dixon claimed the duo met while working on a Tyler Perry Studios event in Atlanta in 2019, with Perry allegedly picking the aspiring actor out of the crowd.

Dixon claimed he was given a role at the event that “required frequent conversation with Tyler Perry.” 

The actor claimed they exchanged contact information at the soirée, and Perry subsequently cast him in “Ruthless” and “The Oval.”

Perry is the BET series’ creator, writer and director.

Why is Derek Dixon suing Tyler Perry?

Dixon is suing the billionaire producer for alleged sexual harassment, assault and retaliation, in a lawsuit filed on June 13, 2025, in Los Angeles.

According to the documents obtained by Page Six, the actor accused Perry of fostering “a coercive, sexually exploitative dynamic” as they worked together on both “Ruthless” and “The Oval.”

Dixon further alleged that the producer “initially” promised Dixon “career advancement and creative opportunities, such as producing his pilot and casting him in his show, only to subject him to escalating sexual harassment, assault and battery, and professional retaliation when Mr. Dixon did not reciprocate Mr. Perry’s unwanted advances.”

He alleged that Perry’s first sexual advances toward him occurred at the producer’s Atlanta home in January 2020.

In the complaint, Dixon said after drinking too much, he retired to a guest room at Perry’s estate, where he claimed Perry got into bed with him and touched his thighs as Dixon rejected the advances.

After being hired on “The Oval,” Perry allegedly continued to send sexual messages to the actor, including asking Dixon his sexual preferences and allegedly noting that he has sex with men.

Dixon further alleged in his complaint that he again visited Perry in 2020, fearing that the producer would eliminate his role on the show if he didn’t.

Dixon claimed in the lawsuit that during the alleged encounter, Perry grabbed him by the throat, saying, “Wow! Look how excited you just got!”

Dixon, who stated he attempted to de-escalate the sexually charged situation, feared he would lose his role if he complained about the incidents.

“Dixon immediately understood that his job security depended on his ‘relationship’ with Perry,” the complaint reads.

“From this point on, Dixon worked with the constant fear of losing his job if he did not engage with and endure Perry’s sexual harassment.”

Dixon seeks $260 million in the complaint for quid pro quo, workplace sexual harassment, sexual assault and battery.

What happens next?

The lawsuit is ongoing.

In a statement obtained by Page Six, Perry’s counsel Matthew Boyd called the lawsuit a “scam.”

“This is an individual who got close to Tyler Perry for what now appears to be nothing more than setting up a scam,” the statement read.

“But Tyler will not be shaken down and we are confident these fabricated claims of harassment will fail.”