Derek Dixon, popular actor from ‘The Oval,’ has filed a lawsuit against Tyler Perry for sexual assault in a bombshell reveal. He shared the ordeal of meeting Perry in 2019, getting cast in ‘The Oval,’ and even receiving allegedly sexually suggestive messages from the filmmaker as well.

Derek Dixon files a lawsuit against Tyler Perry for sexual assault

On the charges of sexual assault, Dixon, who is known for projects like ‘Ruthless’ and ‘Losing It,’ has filed a 260 million dollar lawsuit against Tyler Perry, as per TMZ reports. The star alleged that they met for the first time in 2019 during an event party where the actor was sought out by Perry on purpose. The two had shared numbers, after which Perry had scored him a minor role on ‘Ruthless.’The story continued in 2020, when he alleges that Tyler invited him over to his home, where Derek drank too much and fell asleep due to his inebriated state. He shared that Tyler got into the same bed with him and attempted to touch his thighs. Despite refusing his advances, Perry persisted and remained involved.Dixon also shared that in the reports that later on, another incident occurred in 2020 in Tyler Perry’s home in Atlanta, where the actor was invited. He shared that Perry turned the conversation between the two towards asking inappropriate questions like if he “likes it rough in bed.” Afterwards, Tyler had grabbed Dixon by his throat and had said, “Look how excited you just got” to him. The actor stated that he pushed the ‘House of Payne’ director away, and the incident came to an end there.

Sexually suggestive messages shared by Tyler Perry

Furthermore, Dixion detailed that after landing his pivotal role as Dale in ‘The Oval,’ he started receiving suggestive and questionable messages from Perry. He alleges that the ‘Straw’ director would send him odd texts about how he gets involved with men and had even asked him about his sexual preferences as well.

Dixon claims he feared losing his job

Dixon also alleged that Tyler used his power and influence in the industry to exploit him and create a “coercive, sexually exploitative dynamic.” He shared that his ‘The Oval’ character has also been written as a gay and homeless man who sleeps around with people for places to stay. He alleges that Perry shared that he was also seeking a similar partner, someone who was dependent and loyal to the actor and filmmaker.In a bout of fear, rather than reporting the matter, Derek shared that he refused the advances by saying he was not “the sexual type.”

Dixon alleges that Perry “groped” him in 2021

The actor also alleges that Tyler Perry groped him and said, “Relax and just let it happen” to him while he was staying in the director’s guest house. He shared that to deflect the situation, he refused the advances and changed the subject as well.

Perry’s legal aid issues statement

In response to the lawsuit filed against Perry, his legal aid and lawyer, Matthew Boyd, issued a statement. He stated that “This is an individual who got close to Tyler Perry for what now appears to be nothing more than setting up a scam, but Tyler will not be shaken down, and we are confident these fabricated claims of harassment will fail.”