The legal battle between Hollywood billionaire Tyler Perry and actor Derek Dixon has taken a dramatic turn, moving from the courtroom to national television.
Dixon, who featured in Perry’s BET series The Oval, appeared in an interview with ABC News’ Linsey Davis where he restated allegations of sexual misconduct against the filmmaker.
In a preview clip released ahead of the full broadcast, Dixon recounted what he described as the first incident, allegedly at Perry’s Atlanta residence in January 2020.
“I got into bed and then I noticed that he climbed into bed with me as well and started rubbing my leg. I jumped up out of bed,” Dixon said. He added that the experience left him fearful, stressing that “unless someone has been through an experience where they lose control over their body, it’s hard to understand the kind of fear and emotion that comes with it.”
The actor had earlier filed a $260 million lawsuit against Perry and Tyler Perry Studios, alleging workplace harassment, sexual assault, and battery. According to court filings, Dixon claimed he had been invited to Perry’s home, drank excessively, and passed out in a guest room before waking to the alleged incident.
Perry’s representatives have strongly denied the accusations, dismissing the lawsuit as a scam.