Derek Dixon on the ABC interview. Image: ABC via US weekly.
(The Post News) -In a first television interview, Derek Dixon has detailed Tyler Perry’s alleged sexual advances and said he refuses to stay silent as he pushes forward with the $260 million sexual harassment lawsuit.
In June, Dixon filed the massive lawsuit, claiming that while working on Perry’s BET series The Oval, the 55-year-old producer repeatedly made inappropriate sexual advances and used his position to dangle life-changing job opportunities, creating a “sexually exploitative dynamic.” In the interview with ABC News Live’s Linsey Davis, Derek recalled some of the alleged incidents.
According to him, one of the incidents took place in January 2020, when he was invited to Perry’s Atlanta home. He alleged that while sleeping in the guest house after drinking, Perry entered his room, got into bed with him, and began rubbing his leg. He said he immediately jumped out of bed, causing Perry to say, “Turn around so I can look at you.” Perry left the room after realizing Dixon was not interested, he claimed.
In another alleged incident at Perry’s home, Derek said the producer, while intoxicated, asked him to pull down his underwear and grabbed his cheeks after requesting that he “measure himself.” Dixon maintains he consistently rejected the advances, saying, “I don’t want this,” as he tried to de-escalate the situation and get Perry to stop.
Dixon’s Lawsuit
Drek revealed that he filed a complaint in January with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, shortly after his character on The Oval was killed off. He said he believed Perry removed his role on the BET series as a way of asserting power after Dixon had repeatedly refused him.
In his 46-page lawsuit filed in Los Angeles, Dixon is suing Perry for “battery, workplace harassment, and sexual assault.” He has denied accusations from Perry’s attorneys that he attempted to extort $40 million in exchange for his silence, insisting instead that he is speaking publicly to prevent similar incidents from happening to others.
Page Six said that upon request to comment, Perry’s attorney dismissed the claims as a “shake down” and “scam.” They described the pair’s relationship as once “close” but adamantly denied any coercion.
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