‘$260 million lawsuit fight against abuse of power’: Tyler Perry accuser appears in first on-camera interview

Dixon first met Perry in 2019 at a studio opening party while working for an events company and caught Perry’s attention. The Star Trek actor then allegedly gave him his number and said, “We’ll talk about this.”

In 2020, Dixon landed the role of Dale on The Oval, a role he appeared in for 85 episodes from 2021 to 2025. He described his role and work as a dream job, but little did he know it would turn into his biggest nightmare.

Also Read | Tyler Perry accused of sexual assault, abuse of power, and retaliation by The Oval actor Derek Dixon; Perry calls it ‘a scam’

“There’s a lot of shame around it. Just trying to think what you could have done better and having to deal with the judgment of how you could’ve ended it better without being in that situation,” Dixon opened up about his experience.

The 30-year-old alleged that during his time on the show, Perry sent him sexual texts, one of which read, “What’s it going to take for you to have guiltless sex? Have y’all found that in therapy yet? I would hope that you would let someone hold and make love to you.”

Speaking to ABC News’ Linsey Davis, Dixon detailed an alleged incident when Perry got drunk at night at his residence in Atlanta, where Dixon also stayed after a party. He said Perry attempted to molest him while they were walking back to the guest area.

“There’s this health monitor scale on the way. I was like, ‘What is that?’ And he said, ‘Well, you have to be in your underwear to measure.’” He then alleged that the film producer, who owns one of the biggest Hollywood studios, grabbed him despite Dixon saying no and trying to stop him. Dixon said he eventually locked himself in the bathroom to get away.

“Unless someone’s been through something where they have their control over their body taken away, you don’t really understand the kind of feelings that you get in that moment,” Dixon continued. “Every thought came into my head: to run, to fight, to freeze. I didn’t know what to do.”

Dixon also said that Perry apologised over text after the incident and claimed that days earlier, when he stayed at Perry’s house one night, the actor engaged in similar behaviour after allegedly “climbing on his bed” at midnight.

Dixon said he jumped out of bed and left. He also alleged that Perry kept sending sexual texts and even threatened to end his role on the show. In a Season 2 episode, Dixon’s character was shot multiple times, which he felt was Perry’s way of sending a message: “If I don’t make him happy, I could stay dead on the show.”

Dixon described feeling anxious and depressed, constantly fearing for his job and career. “For me, that was his way of showing power over us and our careers,” Dixon said. “I was extremely anxious. The calls and texts were almost everyday. This constant state of, ‘If I don’t answer, I will lose my job. I will be fired or killed off the show.’ It took a huge toll on my anxiety and depression.”

Dixon left The Oval in September 2024 and filed a complaint with the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in January 2025. His $260 million lawsuit, he says, covers lost income, the loss of his role on the show, and stands as a fight against a billionaire abusing his power.

“I hope you take accountability for what happened, and I hope this has taught you not to treat your employees this way. Never use someone’s dream to coerce them into a relationship. That’s not professional.” Perry’s lawyers have not commented on the video yet.

(with inputs from ABC News)