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Tyler Perry was hit with a $260 million lawsuit as The Oval actor Derek Dixon accused him of sexual abuse, prompting fans to pick sides. The actor and director worked with Dixon for years on the set of the seasonal drama until the latter quit the role in 2024, after playing Dale in over a hundred episodes. Months after bidding farewell to The Oval, Dixon has revealed the real reason he allegedly quit the Tyler Perry Studios series, roping the director into a case of sexual misconduct.
In his lawsuit, filed against Tyler Perry last week, Derek Dixon, who previously landed a part on Perry’s Ruthless, accused the 55-year-old of sexual harassment, battery, sexual assault, and workplace gender violence. According to him, their paths first crossed at an event in 2019 when Perry approached him in a crowd and collected his phone number, suggesting he might have a role for him. He eventually gave him a small part in 2 episodes of Ruthless. He recounted several instances that followed, where Perry made advances at him, including a 2020 incident at the director’s home in Atlanta.
Derek Dixon Recounts Tyler Perry’ Alleged Abuse In Lawsuit
Per the lawsuit, Dixon honored an invitation to Tyler Perry’s Atlanta abode, and ended up sleeping off in the guest room after having too much to drink. However, the Madea actor climbed into bed with him and started touching his thighs without warning, but he rejected his advances. On another occasion in June 2021, Perry allegedly groped Dixon in the guise of a goodnight hug after bumping into him wearing only his underwear in the guest room of his Atlanta home.
He also started sending sexually suggestive texts to Dixon, asking about his sexual preferences and spilling details about his own sexual preferences, including his interest in men and desire for a loyal and dependent partner. Dixon allegedly feared that turning him down outright could lead him to lose his job. Hence, he simply claimed not to be “the sexual type” after repeated advances, and never complained of sexual harassment for the same reasons. Derek Dixon eventually filed a sexual abuse complaint with the Equal Employment and Opportunity Commission in June 2024, quitting his role on Tyler Perry’s The Oval soon after.
He is now suing the entertainment mogul and his production company, Tyler Perry Studios, for quid pro quo, workplace sexual harassment, sexual assault, and battery, per TMZ. His filing contains sexually charged text exchanges between him and Perry to back his claims. Dixon seeks $260 million in damages. Perry’s attorney, Matthew Boyd, has since denied these allegations, claiming Dixon “got close to Tyler Perry“ as part of his bigger plan to set up a scam. He expressed confidence that his fabricated scheme would fail.
Fans React to Sexual Assault Allegations
While the news of Tyler Perry’s sexual abuse allegations amid the Diddy scandal has sent shockwaves through the media, many believe they saw this one coming. Via Reddit, several fans have weighed in on the subject, sharing their take on the possibility of Perry’s involvement in the heated claims detailed in the lawsuit. Many expressed shock and disbelief at the allegations suggesting Perry was into men, citing the actor’s previous denials of the “gay rumors” that have plagued him for years. Meanwhile, others revealed the news came as no surprise when considering the number of Hollywood greats roped into sexual harassment claims in recent times. One Reddit user affirmed,
“It’s always the people you most expect”
Another wrote,
“At this point, I wouldn’t have been surprised with how much BS this dude churns out monthly.”
A third added,
“Props to the person who had the courage to file this lawsuit… I’m sure going up against a behemoth that is the media machine that is Tyler Perry is terrifying.”
Controversial Boondocks Episode Resurfaces Amid Lawsuit
Meanwhile, many based their verdict on the insinuation that the animated television series, Boondocks foresaw this scandal long before Derek Dixon’s sexual abuse lawsuit against Tyler Perry. The similarities between the Boondocks episode and the ongoing scandal leave fans convinced the animated series predicted the future, or perhaps, had knowledge of Perry’s questionable conduct behind the scenes. One wrote,
“Boondocks called this shit.”
Another agreed, adding,
“Might as Well call it Black Simpsons with how eerily prescient it has been.”
A third suggested,
“The writers probably heard about this then. Kind of like a Cosby thing where it was a secret in the industry kept quiet.”
In the Boondocks episode titled Pause, which aired on June 20, 2010, the character Winston Jerome, widely implied to be a representation of Tyler Perry, was portrayed as a gay cult leader, superstar playwright, actor, and screenwriter with a flamboyant lifestyle. The character made unwelcome advances at Robert Freeman after he auditioned for and scored a role in his movie, even demanding sex in exchange for the lead role in an upcoming blockbuster. The episode ended with Robert storming off Jerome’s compound after realizing Jerome’s theatrical cult was only a front to have sex with men. This episode created a stir at the time, bringing Perry’s character into question. Although the 55-year-old decided against suing the producers then, it appears the Boondocks lawsuit is back to haunt him exactly fifteen years later!
