A spokesperson for Tyler Perry denied the allegations, describing them as part of a calculated scheme. “Derek Dixon attempted to ingratiate himself with Mr. Perry, and what now seems to be a setup for a financial shakedown.
Tyler will not be extorted, and we are confident that these fabricated claims will be dismissed,” the statement read.
The lawsuit outlines a timeline beginning in 2019, when Perry allegedly offered Dixon, who was then working for an events company, his first acting role.
Shortly afterward, Perry invited Dixon to his home in Georgia, where he allegedly served him alcohol and encouraged him to stay overnight.
According to the complaint, Perry entered Dixon’s guest room uninvited during the night and began groping him. “Dixon repeatedly informed Perry that he was not interested in sex, trying to avoid confrontation while not upsetting someone who held power over his budding career,” the suit states.
The complaint details escalating behavior from Perry, including sexually explicit text messages and persistent inquiries about Dixon’s sexual preferences.
It also claims that Perry treated Dixon like a personal “on-call pet,” contacting him daily and blurring professional and personal boundaries. Dixon later joined the cast of Perry’s BET drama, The Oval, where his character was supposed to be killed off at the end of the season.
However, Perry allegedly suggested that Dixon’s character could survive into future seasons if he “did a good job.” The lawsuit claims this suggestion made it clear to Dixon that his job security depended on maintaining a personal relationship with Perry.
The complaint alleges further sexual misconduct by Perry during a 2020 cast trip to the Bahamas and again in 2021 at Perry’s residence. In the latter incident, Perry allegedly pulled down Dixon’s underwear and groped him while he was naked and “overcome with tremendous fear.”
Following the alleged assaults, one of Perry’s attorneys allegedly congratulated Dixon, saying, “Christmas came early,” and informed him he had received a raise for his performance.
Perry also agreed to purchase the rights to Losing It, a pilot script written by Dixon — a move the suit describes as a strategic effort to secure Dixon’s silence. However, the lawsuit claims Perry never intended to develop the show and only used it as leverage.
“Perry was only using the show as a quid pro quo with Dixon, holding its production over his head like the sword of Damocles,” the complaint states.
Despite filming the pilot, the project was shelved. Perry later offered Dixon a writing position on another show, which Dixon declined.
He subsequently filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), though the current status of that complaint is unclear.
Dixon’s lawsuit portrays a picture of coercion, manipulation, and abuse of power, alleging that Perry’s actions created a hostile environment in which professional advancement was conditioned on unwanted personal involvement. Neither Perry nor his legal team have commented further on the case beyond the initial statement. As of now, no criminal charges have been filed.