Derek Dixon, known for his role in ‘The Oval,’ is speaking out in his first TV interview after suing Tyler Perry. Dixon filed a $260 million lawsuit against the filmmaker back in June, claiming he had allegedly sexually assaulted and pressured him to stay quiet. Dixon is still doubling down on his claims, making it clear he won’t keep silent any longer.
RELATED: Alleged Texts Between ‘The Oval’ Actor & Tyler Perry Released Amid $260M Sexual Assault & Harassment Lawsuit
Derek Dixon Doubles Down On Claims Against Tyler Perry After Filing $260M Lawsuit
Derek Dixon recently sat down with ABC News Live’s Linsey Davis and explained why he decided to sue Tyler Perry. He admitted that speaking out hasn’t been easy. When explaining the lawsuit, Dixon explained that losing his income and the show were big reasons. Derek says justice for him means knowing he assisted with change, so no other actor goes through the same thing.
“Thinking that I’ve made a change and something like this won’t happen to another actor that works for him or another actor in the industry. That would be justice for me.”
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Derek Recalls Alleged Physical Incidents At Perry’s Home
During the interview, Dixon also opened up about physical incidents that he experienced with Perry. He said they were at Perry’s house having drinks when Perry suggested he stay in his guest house instead of driving home. Derek explained that once he lay in bed, Perry joined him and rubbed his leg. “I jumped up out of bed and he said, ‘Turn around so I can look at you,” Derek alleges. Derek said Perry eventually got out of the bed, and he thought that ended the situation since he wasn’t interested, but the behavior continued.
Derek Dixon also claimed that when his character Dale suffered gunshot wounds in season two of ‘The Oval,’ he believed Perry used it as a threat. He said it made him feel like his role on the show depended on doing what Perry wanted. Also, Derek recalled another incident where he and Perry were at his guest house again, but this time they were both under the influence. He said that while walking through the house, he noticed a health monitor. According to Derek, Perry told him he needed to strip down to his underwear to measure himself. Dixon claimed Perry then pulled down his underwear and grabbed his derriere. Derek said he tried to stop him, but Perry kept going. But Dixon reportedly affirmed, “I don’t want to be naked, I don’t want this.”
“Unless someone has been through something where they have there control over their bodies taken away, you don’t really understand the kind of feelings you get in that moment. It was almost like every thought came through my head to run, to fight, to freeze. Dixon added, “I didn’t know what to do.”
From there, Derek shared that Tyler apologized for his actions, but his constant calls and texts made him extremely anxious and fearful that he would lose his job.
Tyler Perry Breaks His Silence On Derek’s Lawsuit
Things between Dixon and Perry started coming to light in June after alleged texts between them hit the internet following Dixon’s lawsuit. So far, Tyler Perry hasn’t addressed the accusations from Derek. Shortly after the leaked messages and lawsuit, Perry’s attorney, Matthew Boyd, dismissed the allegations, claiming Dixon got close to the filmmaker to set up a scam.
“But Tyler will not be shaken down, and we are confident these fabricated claims of harassment will fail,” Matthew Boyd said.
