Actor who sued Tyler Perry for sexual harassment says he could not stay silent anymore
Derek Dixon finally breaks his silence
The lawsuit alleges a disturbing pattern that started in 2020 and continued through June 2024. According to court documents, Dixon claims Perry subjected him to repeated sexual harassment, assault and retaliation. And it was not just verbal. The actor accuses Perry of groping him on multiple occasions, including one deeply disturbing incident at a guest house in Georgia where Perry allegedly pulled down his underwear.
The receipts are damning
Among the most shocking revelations were sexually suggestive texts allegedly sent by Perry, including one that read: "What is it going to take for you to have guiltless sex?" Dixon said these messages created a toxic, coercive dynamic that forced him to navigate a minefield between professionalism and survival. He tried to keep things civil, hoping Perry would eventually focus on business. But every time it seemed the harassment would end, it came right back.
Perry's camp hits back
Perry's attorney, Matthew Boyd, dismissed the accusations entirely, calling them an elaborate scam. According to him, Dixon simply got close to Perry with the intent of executing a shakedown. But Dixon insists that is far from the truth. For him, the choice to go public came from a place of urgency and pain.
From silence to action
Dixon told The Hollywood Reporter he stayed quiet for too long, convincing himself this was just how the industry worked. But after years of internal conflict, he filed a report with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and took legal action. Support has poured in from fans and fellow creatives, though online threats have also emerged.
He claims the goal is not revenge but reform, to ensure future actors do not have to trade dignity for dreams. For now, Dixon is standing tall, even if it means standing alone.
And Tyler Perry? He might want to lawyer up tighter, because this legal storm is far from over.
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