Actor Derek Dixon has publicly spoken for the first time since filing a $260 million lawsuit against media mogul Tyler Perry, alleging sexual harassment and assault during his time working on Perry’s BET drama The Oval.

In an interview with ABC News Live on Tuesday, Dixon described his experiences as “a vulnerable thing to talk about,” adding:

“It’s been hard. There’s a lot of shame around it … just trying to think what you could have done better and how you could’ve ended it without being in that situation.”

According to Dixon’s civil complaint, his relationship with Perry began in 2019 at a studio event, eventually leading to a starring role as “Dale” in The Oval, where he appeared in 85 episodes from 2021 to 2025.

But Dixon alleges Perry soon began sending inappropriate text messages that escalated into unwanted physical advances, including incidents at Perry’s Atlanta guesthouse and on the set of the show.

Dixon claims one encounter in 2020 turned physical after Perry allegedly climbed into his bed and touched him without consent. He further alleges a separate incident in Perry’s trailer during filming, when the mogul pushed him against a wall and groped him.

In a statement to ABC News, Perry’s lawyer Matthew Boyd dismissed the allegations, calling them “fabricated claims of harassment” and characterizing the lawsuit as an attempted “shakedown.”

Dixon says he eventually cut ties with Perry in 2024, left The Oval, and filed a complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission earlier this year. He said the $260 million figure represents both lost earnings and a deterrent:

“Part of that number is my lost job, my lost income, the loss of a show. The other part is a deterrent for how do you stop a billionaire who won’t stop themselves.”

Dixon added that his decision to go public is rooted in accountability:
“I hope this teaches [him] to never use someone’s dream to coerce them into a relationship that’s not professional.”

The lawsuit is ongoing.