Actor Derek Dixon has accused media titan Tyler Perry of sexual harassment and assault in a $260 million lawsuit, speaking publicly for the first time on ABC News Live on September 9, 2025.

Dixon, who starred in Perry’s BET series “The Oval,” detailed a pattern of alleged misconduct that he says derailed his career, while Perry’s attorney dismissed the claims as a baseless “scam.” Dixon, 32, portrayed Dale in 85 episodes of “The Oval” from 2021 to 2025 after meeting Perry at a 2019 studio event.

The lawsuit, filed in June in Fulton County Superior Court, alleges Perry sent suggestive texts and initiated unwanted physical contact in 2020 and 2021 at his guest house and trailer. Dixon told anchor Linsey Davis he felt trapped by the power dynamic, fearing professional retaliation. Specific incidents include Perry allegedly climbing into Dixon’s bed in 2020 and, in 2021, pushing him against a trailer wall after probing his attraction.

Another encounter at Perry’s Atlanta home involved Perry allegedly pulling down Dixon’s clothing during a supposed weight check. Dixon said the $260 million suit reflects lost income, including an unproduced show, and seeks to prevent future abuse.

Perry, 56, a billionaire with a media empire spanning 24 films and Tyler Perry Studios, denied the allegations through lawyer Matthew Boyd, who called Dixon’s claims a fabricated shakedown. Boyd told ABC News the accusations will collapse in court, citing Perry’s clean record and philanthropy, including NAACP contributions.

The case has ignited debate about workplace protections in Hollywood, particularly for Black actors navigating powerful gatekeepers. Dixon, who left “The Oval” in 2024 and filed an EEOC complaint in January 2025, hopes his stand ensures “no other actor endures this.”