Actor Derek Dixon has found himself in a legal situation with Tyler Perry.
In June 2025, Dixon filed a $260 million lawsuit against Perry and accused him of using his influence in the entertainment industry to create a “coercive, sexually exploitative dynamic” while he was acting on The Oval and Ruthless.
Dixon is suing the filmmaker for quid pro quo sexual harassment, sexual battery, sexual assault, intentional infliction of emotional distress and retaliation, among other things.
Perry has denied the allegations against him through his attorney.
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“This is an individual who got close to Tyler Perry for what now appears to be nothing more than setting up a scam,” Perry’s attorney Matthew Boyd said in a statement to ABC News. “But Tyler will not be shaken down and we are confident these fabricated claims of harassment will fail.”
Keep reading to learn more about Dixon and how he found his way working on Perry’s shows.
How Did Derek Dixon and Tyler Perry Meet?
Dixon alleged in court documents obtained by Us Weekly that he met Perry while working on an opening party for Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta, Georgia, in 2019.
At the time, Dixon said he and Perry exchanged phone numbers and the Straw director later cast him on the show Ruthless. The BET+ show premiered in March 2020 with season 5 premiering in August 2024.
Did Tyler Perry Influence the Fate of Derek Dixon’s Character on ‘The Oval’?
In his lawsuit, Dixon alleged that Perry sexually assaulted him in January 2020, and subsequently offered him a regular role on The Oval, the long-running BET drama set inside the White House.
Dixon claimed that the fate of his character, Dale, hinged on his acquiescing to Perry’s alleged advances.
“Mr. Perry made it clear to Dixon that if Dixon ignored Perry or failed to engage with the sexual innuendos, Dixon’s character would ‘die’ in the next season,” the lawsuit stated. “Indeed, Dixon’s character ‘Dale’ was shot four times in the chest at the end of his first season on The Oval, and Perry always held this over Mr. Dixon’s head, implying that ‘Dale’ would survive if Dixon kept Perry ‘happy.’”
What Did Derek Dixon Do Before Becoming an Actor?
Before landing roles with Tyler Perry Studios, Dixon reportedly studied at Marymount Manhattan College and explored theatre with roles in The Lion in Winter, Romeo and Juliet and The Boys In The Band.
“I’ve always been into theatre. I started as an actor,” he shared with Essential Theater in 2016. “As an actor, you naturally find yourself reading a lot of plays – at the very least, the ones you get cast in.”
Does Derek Dixon Have a Social Media Presence?
Although Dixon has a verified Instagram account with more than 9,000 followers, he is not the most active user.
As of press time, his most recent post was in April 2024, when he shared a shot captured during a professional photo shoot in California. “Golden hour in Malibu with @yvannfilipczak,” he wrote via Instagram at the time.
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What Was Derek Dixon’s Latest Role?
In February 2024, Perry wrapped production on the third movie in his four-picture deal with Amazon MGM Studios, Variety reported. Hall was expected to star in the project tentatively titled Joy Ridge.
“Amidst the picturesque landscapes of Colorado, Joy (Shannon Thornton) finds herself on a holiday trip with a man she envisions as ‘the one,” the film’s official logline read. “However, her journey takes an enchanting turn as she stumbles upon someone who might just redefine her notions about the life she once knew back home.”
