Actor Derek Dixon, who starred on Tyler Perry’s BET series The Oval, gave an ABC News interview detailing allegations of sexual assault and harassment against Perry. Dixon claims that Perry made unwanted sexual advances on multiple occasions, including pulling down his underwear and grabbing him after a night of drinking, as well as sending sexually suggestive texts. Dixon says he feared professional retaliation if he resisted, noting that his character was written to be shot multiple times in Season 2, which he interpreted as a form of control. Dixon left the show in September 2024 and filed a lawsuit in June seeking $260 million in punitive damages. He also alleges Perry retained rights to a pilot he wrote, titled Losing It. Perry’s lawyers deny the allegations, calling the lawsuit a “shakedown” and asserting the claims are fabricated.