Hollywood powerhouse Tyler Perry hit with $260m lawsuit over shocking accusations

Famed American filmmaker and television producer Tyler Perry, as of Wednesday, June 18, 2025, is facing a $260 million lawsuit from actor Derek Dixon, who has accused the media mogul of sexual assault, harassment, and professional retaliation.

According to online media reports, Dixon said it was during his time working on Perry’s TV series.

The lawsuit was filed in Los Angeles and claims that Perry exploited his power in the entertainment industry to manipulate and coerce Dixon while he was cast in Perry’s shows The Oval and Ruthless.

Dixon asserts that Perry initially presented himself as a mentor who could help advance his acting career.

The two allegedly met in 2019 at a Tyler Perry Studios event in Atlanta.

Over the course of several months, they remained in contact, discussing career opportunities.

However, the lawsuit claims that what began as professional interest gradually turned into a pattern of inappropriate behaviour by Perry.

According to it, the inappropriate behaviour include sexually suggestive remarks, persistent advances, and ultimately, acts of alleged sexual assault.

According to the court documents, Perry is accused of creating a “coercive, sexually exploitative dynamic,” where he used his influence over casting and character development to pressure Dixon into complying with his sexual demands.

Dixon claims that when he resisted Perry’s advances, the filmmaker began retaliating professionally.

One of the key allegations involves Perry offering Dixon roles in two of his BET+ productions – Ruthless and later The Oval.

Dixon says Perry made it clear that his participation in future episodes and the survival of his character were conditional on his willingness to entertain Perry’s sexual overtures.

The complaint alleges Perry explicitly warned that if Dixon failed to engage with the flirtations or ignored him, his character would be written off the show.

This, according to Dixon suggested that Perry said his character would “die” in the next season if he did not comply.

The lawsuit further alleges that Perry manipulated Dixon by threatening his career trajectory while simultaneously using it as leverage to solicit sexual interactions.

A particularly troubling claim describes an incident in which Perry allegedly cornered Dixon in a trailer on the set of The Oval.

Dixon said Perry aggressively questioned him about his sexual preferences, then physically pinned him to a wall and fondled him.

He states that he resisted Perry’s actions and quickly left the trailer.

After enduring multiple incidents that he describes as sexually harassing and exploitative, Dixon says he ultimately made the decision to remove himself from the situation.

He left his role on The Oval and turned down an offer from Perry to join his writing team, a move Dixon says was necessary to avoid further harassment and retaliatory behavior.

In response to the lawsuit, Perry’s legal team has firmly denied all allegations.

Attorney Matthew Boyd, speaking on Perry’s behalf, characterized the claims as entirely unfounded and suggested that Dixon’s actions are part of a financial scheme.

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

He added that Perry has no intention of giving in to the claims and remains confident that the lawsuit will ultimately be dismissed as baseless.

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

As of now, no formal charges have been filed against Perry beyond the civil complaint, and the case is expected to proceed through the legal system in Los Angeles.

The lawsuit not only seeks $260 million in damages but also brings renewed attention to the issue of power imbalances in the entertainment industry and the mechanisms that may enable abuse.

This is particularly when individuals feel their careers are on the line.

Perry, who built a billion-dollar empire through film, television, and stage productions, has long been a prominent figure in Hollywood.

He is often praised for creating opportunities for Black actors and creatives.

These allegations represent a significant challenge to his public image and raise serious questions about behind-the-scenes conduct in the productions bearing his name.

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