Tyler Perry Sued For Sexual Assault By ‘The Oval’ Actor Derek Dixon, Claims Media Mogul Yanked Down His Bottoms & Said ‘Just Let It Happen’

Tyler Perry Sued For Sexual Assault By ‘The Oval’ Actor Derek Dixon, Claims Media Mogul Yanked Down His Bottoms & Said ‘Just Let It Happen’

Tyler Perry has been hit with a sexual assault lawsuit from an actor formerly on his series The Oval.

Derek Dixon is suing the media mogul and Tyler Perry Studios for quid pro quo and workplace sexual harassment, sexual assault and battery. His lawsuit lists several alleged moments of assault and harassment by Perry, stemming back to 2020, before he was cast in the political drama series.

Dixon said he accepted an invitation to Perry’s home in January 2020, and, after drinking too much, had to crash in a guest room. Perry allegedly got in bed with Dixon and started touching his thighs. Dixon said he immediately shut down his advances, but Tyler continued making passes at him over time.

Once cast in The Oval, things only escalated, with Perry sending Dixon years’ worth of sexually explicit texts, according to the suit. One text reportedly said,

“No straight man would be going on walks with you or cooking dinner for you unless they wanted to f**k you. I would f**k you.”

 

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Derek said he feared his career would be harmed if he directly turned his boss down, so instead, he claimed to have just told Perry he wasn’t his “sexual type.” Dixon’s suit details other times he visited Perry’s home, including one moment where he stayed in the guest room again, and Perry allegedly entered to say goodnight, yanked his underwear down, and told him,

“Relax and just let it happen.”

It’s noted in the lawsuit that in June 2024, Dixon filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and then quit The Oval due to the alleged sexual harassment. He’s asking for $260 million in damages.

Thoughts?

[VIA]