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Black America Web
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Black America Web
‘The Oval' Actor Sues Tyler Perry For Alleged Sexual Assault And Battery
Source: Robin L Marshall / Getty An actor on The Oval , one of writer, director, and producer Tyler Perry's many television shows, has filed a lawsuit accusing Perry of sexually harassing him during production and using his leverage as a producer to silence him. According to AP News, actor Derek Dixon filed the lawsuit last Friday in the Los Angeles Superior Court and is seeking at least $260 million in damages. Dixon says he initially met Tyler Perry while working as event staff for one of the producer's parties. Perry took notice of Dixon and told him to audition for one of his productions. Dixon initially started working for Tyler Perry with a bit part in Ruthless , before being offered a more prominent role in The Oval . Dixon alleges that as his roles became more prominent in Tyler Perry's productions, Perry's sexual advances became more and more aggressive. 'Mr. Perry took his success and power and used his considerable influence in the entertainment industry to create a coercive, sexually exploitative dynamic with Mr. Dixon — initially promising him career advancement and creative opportunities, such as producing his pilot and casting him in his show, only to subject him to escalating sexual harassment, assault and battery, and professional retaliation,' the lawsuit says. The lawsuit includes screenshots of several text messages that Dixon alleges were sent by Perry. 'What's it going to take for you to have guiltless sex?' one of the messages says. Another series of text messages shows Perry allegedly expressing jealousy over seeing a picture of Dixon with another man. Dixon says he tried to rebuff the alleged advances while staying friendly with Perry, as it was implied his character would be killed off if he outright ignored them. 'Dixon did his best to tiptoe around Mr. Perry's sexual aggression while keeping on Mr. Perry's good side,' the lawsuit says. 'Mr. Perry made it clear to Dixon that if Dixon ignored Perry or failed to engage with the sexual innuendos, Dixon's character would 'die.'' The lawsuit includes screenshots of text messages allegedly from Tyler Perry implying that he used the threat of killing off a character as a way to keep actors in line. 'I swear to you, I KNOW HOW TO FIX THIS SH*T,' the text reads. 'I love killing a m*ther f*cker in a show that no one expects.' From AP News: The lawsuit says Perry eventually sexually assaulted Dixon on 'multiple occasions,' including an instance where he 'forcibly pulled off Mr. Dixon's clothing, groped his buttocks, and attempted to force himself on Dixon.' Dixon clearly told Perry 'No,' but was initially ignored until he was able to de-escalate the situation and change the subject, according to the lawsuit. The following day, Perry apologized, and told Dixon he would work with Dixon on a TV pilot Dixon was seeking to produce. The pilot, entitled 'Losing It,' was never sold, and Dixon believes it was only produced as a way to keep him silent about the alleged harassment. Dixon says he moved from Atlanta to Los Angeles as a way to put distance between himself and Tyler Perry, but he alleges that the harassment continued through text messages. He filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in 2024, and when that didn't result in any steps being taken by the show's producers, he quit. For his part, Tyler Perry has denied the allegations. 'This is an individual who got close to Tyler Perry for what now appears to be nothing more than setting up a scam,' Perry's attorney Matthew Boyd said in a statement Tuesday. 'But Tyler will not be shaken down, and we are confident these fabricated claims of harassment will fail.' Tyler Perry and BET, the network that produces The Oval , reached a new multi-year deal last year. BET has not commented on the allegations against Perry, and it's unclear how, if at all, this will affect the several shows he currently has in production at the network. SEE ALSO: Tyler Perry, Terri Vaughn Sued Over 'She The People' Netflix Series LA Fires: Tyler Perry Rips Insurance Companies SEE ALSO 'The Oval' Actor Sues Tyler Perry For Alleged Sexual Assault And Battery was originally published on Black America Web Featured Video CLOSE
News18
a day ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Karisma Kapoor Pays Tribute To Sunjay Kapur; Ananya-Kartik's 'Fake Tan' Looks For Film Go Viral
Last Updated: Karisma Kapoor attends ex-husband Sunjay Kapur's funeral in Delhi; Ananya Panday, Kartik Aaryan's looks from Tu Meri Main Tera spark mixed reactions on Reddit. Karisma Kapoor attended the funeral of her ex-husband Sunjay Kapur in New Delhi on Thursday, June 19. In a video from the crematorium that surfaced on social media, the Bollywood actress was seen paying tributes to her former husband. She was seen dressed in traditional white as a mark of respect. Karisma wore a white salwar suit and appeared visibly sombre. Ananya Panday and Kartik Aaryan's looks for Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri have surfaced on Reddit, and the reactions aren't too positive. Ananya and Kartik have been in Croatia for a while now for the film's shoot. The viral images show them in 'tanned' avatars. While Kartik's hair is styled in what seems to be a mohawk, Ananya Panday can be seen with golden highlights. Priyanka Chopra Jonas is soaking in every moment of motherhood, and her latest update proves it. The global icon recently took a break from her hectic schedule to spend some quality time with her daughter Malti Marie Chopra Jonas at Disney World. From Mickey Mouse meet-and-greets to adrenaline-filled rides, it was a magical getaway—and little Malti stole the show. Tyler Perry is facing a $260 million lawsuit filed by The Oval star Derek Dixon, who has levelled serious allegations of sexual assault against the filmmaker. In the lawsuit, filed on June 13, Dixon accuses Perry of using his 'professional power for sexual leverage," claiming he was subjected to years of threats and coercion. The suit includes claims of quid pro quo sexual harassment, a hostile work environment, and sexual assault and battery. According to court documents, Perry allegedly approached Dixon with promises of career opportunities, including casting him in shows like Ruthless and The Oval. Zeenat Aman has taken to Instagram to share how every 'schoolgirl' used to have a crush on the legendary actor Shashi Kapoor. Zeenat was no exception. Zeenat and Shashi ended up working together years after their first meeting, and in Satyam Shivam Sundaram, Kapoor even ended up being Aman's first on-screen kiss. First Published:
The South African
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The South African
Tyler Perry hit with explosive lawsuit over alleged misconduct
Director and filmmaker Tyler Perry is facing a $260 million (4.69 billion ZAR) lawsuit. This was filed by an actor alleging sexual harassment, assault and professional retaliation. Actor Derek Dixon filed the lawsuit at the Los Angeles Superior Court in early June 2025. It highlights an array of alleged instances that occurred between 2019 and 2021. Dixon, who was cast in Perry productions like The Oval and Ruthless , said that Perry used his influence and his power to create a coercive working environment. Within this environment, career advancements were offered in exchange for Dixon entertaining sexual propositions. Dixon alleges inappropriate physical contact and two instances of assault, one of which he claims occurred at Perry's home in Atlanta, Georgia. The complaint also outlined what Dixon alleges he endured whenever he declined these advances. His roles were reduced and minimised and any prospects were no longer being afforded to him. His legal team has alluded to a pattern of this kind of treatment happening at the Tyler Perry Studios. Perry's legal team headed by Matthew Boyd was quick to oppose these claims, referring to the lawsuit as 'A baseless shakedown. There is zero truth to these claims and Mr Perry will defend himself vigorously,' Boyd stated. This news has made global headlines, and as of yet, no court date has been set. Dixon does run the risk of these claims being thrown out or dismissed and this could have adverse effects on his career but If Dixon is in the right, however, Perry's empire, which was built on upstanding morals and just intentions, might take a knock. This is the first time Perry has been linked to allegations of this nature. In 2012 he was involved in a case involving copyright infringement and in 2008 he was embroiled in a labour dispute with the Writers Guild. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 11. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
News18
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Who Is Derek Dixon? The Oval Actor Accusing Tyler Perry Of Sexual Harassment
Last Updated: Tyler Perry has been sued by The Oval actor Derek Dixon for $260 million, alleging sexual harassment and assault, among other complaints. Filmmaker Tyler Perry has found himself in hot water with a fresh lawsuit accusing him of sexual harassment. Derry Dixon, who is an actor on Perry's The Oval, has alleged that the filmmaker made sexual advances after inviting him to his Atlanta home in January 2020. The actor, though, rejected Perry's advances. In his lawsuit, Dixon claimed that he met the director at an event in 2019, and in his words, Perry picked him out of the crowd and asked for his phone number for a possible role. As per Page Six, things took a different turn when Dixon visited Perry's home in 2020, where he drank too much and slept in one of the director's guest rooms. The court documents reveal Dixon's claims that Perry got into bed with him and started touching his thighs. Although he rejected the advances that night, Perry remained interested. Things escalated after getting cast in The Oval when Dixon started receiving sexual messages. The actor is seeking $260 million in damages over workplace sexual harassment, sexual assault and battery, and quid pro quo. But who is Derek Dixon? Read further to know about him. Who Is Derek Dixon? Born in Raleigh, North Carolina, Derek Alexander Dixon studied at Marymount Manhattan College and later acted at the Terry Schreiber Studio in New York. He is best known for his performance as Dale on The Oval, featuring in 85 episodes of the show. Dixon has also worked in another Tyler Perry-directed American drama titled Ruthless. Derek Dixon is also known for his elaborate career in theatre, performing in plays like The Lion in Winter, Romeo and Juliet, and The Boys in the Band. He has written several full-length plays, such as Red Snow, Homewrecker, Pictures of People, Works of Art and Green Light. In 2015, Dixon joined the Working Title Playwrights and was then announced as the winner of the 2016 Essential Theatre Playwriting Award. Back when he met Tyler Perry at a party in 2019, Dixon was working with an event company and was reportedly offered a role on The Restless. First Published:
News18
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Tyler Perry-Derek Dixon Alleged Private Chats Leak Sparks Uproar
The Oval actor Derek Dixon has accused Tyler Perry of sexual harassment and assault in a $260 million lawsuit. Tyler Perry is facing a $260 million lawsuit filed by The Oval star Derek Dixon, who has levelled serious allegations of sexual assault against the filmmaker. In the lawsuit, filed on June 13, Dixon accuses Perry of using his 'professional power for sexual leverage," claiming he was subjected to years of threats and coercion. The suit includes claims of quid pro quo sexual harassment, a hostile work environment, and sexual assault and battery. According to court documents, Perry allegedly approached Dixon with promises of career opportunities, including casting him in shows like Ruthless and The Oval. It was then that Dixon was subjected to sexual harassment and assault, which the actor did not reciprocate. While informing that he was sexually assaulted on 'multiple occasions," Dixon mentioned an instance where Perry tried to force himself on the actor. Things escalated between Dixon and Perry after they shot an episode where his character was killed, seemingly ending his role on the show and his termination from the job. With the matter taking a legal turn, alleged past chat messages between Dixon and Perry have now surfaced online, revealing shocking exchanges between the two. As the lawsuit mentions, Tyler Perry sent inappropriate sexual texts; the screenshots contain messages like, 'What's it going to take for you to have guiltless sex? Have y'all found that yet in therapy?" as per The Shade Room. The Text messages between Tyler Perry and Derek — Monnica (@MrsMonnica) June 18, 2025 Another one read, 'I would hope that you would let someone hold you and make love to you. You are missing the best years of your life, my friend. Trust me. I hope you get past that block in your mind soon." The conversation ranged on various topics, including career advice, religion, Perry fishing for a compliment on a beach picture, warning Dixon about the friendship, and more. This is shocking! An actor, Derek Dixon, has hit Tyler Perry with a huge lawsuit filled with claims of harassment and sexual assault. — Michelle (@Bigbrother_all) June 17, 2025 Another text, allegedly from Perry to Dixon, read, 'Listen to me. If you let the cast know that you and I have a new friendship, then you are opening yourself up to a lot of questions and foolishness. You want them to KNOW that you are there because of your talent and not because we have a friendship or because Tony got me to give you a job. You earned your spot like everyone else. Don't give people an opportunity to play you small, or they will." With the text messages shedding more light on Dixon's claims, Tyler Perry has hit back at the lawsuit, calling it a scam. '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," said Perry's lawyer, Matthew Boyd. Dixon's team is yet to comment on the same. First Published: June 19, 2025, 12:37 IST
