Who Is Derek Dixon? The Oval Actor Accusing Tyler Perry Of Sexual Harassment
Tyler Perry has been sued by The Oval actor Derek Dixon for $260 million, alleging sexual harassment and assault, among other complaints.
Filmmaker Tyler Perry has found himself in hot water with a fresh lawsuit accusing him of sexual harassment. Derry Dixon, who is an actor on Perry's The Oval, has alleged that the filmmaker made sexual advances after inviting him to his Atlanta home in January 2020. The actor, though, rejected Perry's advances. In his lawsuit, Dixon claimed that he met the director at an event in 2019, and in his words, Perry picked him out of the crowd and asked for his phone number for a possible role.
As per Page Six, things took a different turn when Dixon visited Perry's home in 2020, where he drank too much and slept in one of the director's guest rooms. The court documents reveal Dixon's claims that Perry got into bed with him and started touching his thighs. Although he rejected the advances that night, Perry remained interested.
Things escalated after getting cast in The Oval when Dixon started receiving sexual messages. The actor is seeking $260 million in damages over workplace sexual harassment, sexual assault and battery, and quid pro quo.
But who is Derek Dixon? Read further to know about him.
Who Is Derek Dixon?
Born in Raleigh, North Carolina, Derek Alexander Dixon studied at Marymount Manhattan College and later acted at the Terry Schreiber Studio in New York. He is best known for his performance as Dale on The Oval, featuring in 85 episodes of the show. Dixon has also worked in another Tyler Perry-directed American drama titled Ruthless.
Derek Dixon is also known for his elaborate career in theatre, performing in plays like The Lion in Winter, Romeo and Juliet, and The Boys in the Band. He has written several full-length plays, such as Red Snow, Homewrecker, Pictures of People, Works of Art and Green Light. In 2015, Dixon joined the Working Title Playwrights and was then announced as the winner of the 2016 Essential Theatre Playwriting Award.
Back when he met Tyler Perry at a party in 2019, Dixon was working with an event company and was reportedly offered a role on The Restless.
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