Who is Derek Dixon? All about The Oval star accusing Tyler Perry of sexual harassment

Derek Dixon, who appeared in 85 episodes of Tyler Perry’s BET series The Oval, has filed a lawsuit against Tyler Perry, suing him for $260 million.

According to a report in E! News, Perry has been accused of sexual harassment and assault over the years. Dixon reportedly filed a lawsuit on June 13, 2025, in which he claimed that the movie producer first offered aspiring actors the “prospect of career-defining opportunities” and then forced them to meet his demands “in a quid pro quo sexual compromise."

The recent case has brought attention to Derek Dixon’s personal life. He is from Raleigh, North Carolina, and graduated from Marymount Manhattan College. He took acting classes at the Terry Schreiber Studio in New York and has performed in various plays, including The Lion in Winter, Romeo and Juliet, and The Boys In The Band.

What we know about The Oval actor Derek Dixon’s alleged ordeal while filming the series

Derek Dixon, who has appeared in Tyler Perry’s political drama, The Oval, and its spinoff Ruthless, has accused the creator of sexual assault, battery, quid pro quo, and workplace sexual harassment.

His lawsuit, filed on June 13, 2025, stated:

“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.

Dixon was offered the role of Dale in The Oval, where he appeared in over 85 episodes from 2021 to 2025, according to his IMDb profile.

According to his lawsuit, Derek Dixon stated that his role was "written as a gay, homeless, and desperate store clerk" who was forced to "sleep with one of the other characters for a place to stay," as that was what Perry allegedly looked for in a partner in real life.

A report in The Sun indicated that Dixon first met Perry at a party in 2019, which was organized for the opening of Tyler Perry Studios. He was a server at the event. He alleged that Perry asked him for his number and later offered him a role in Ruthless. Before this, Derek Dixon did not have any major role.

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Dixon alleged in his lawsuit that Perry made sexual advances against him when he invited him to his home in Atlanta in 2020. A few months later, when Dixon landed the role in The Oval, Perry allegedly sent him sexually suggestive texts, and that continued for several years, the court documents noted, per The Sun.

Derek Dixon eventually quit his job during The Oval’s sixth season. According to his lawsuit, the primary reason for his departure was ongoing and escalating sexual harassment. His decision cost him around $400,000 in lost wages, per a report in Deadline.

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