ENTERTAINMENT

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Actor Derek Dixon, who appeared on Tyler Perry’s BET dramas The Oval and Ruthless, has spoken publicly for the first time since filing a $260 million lawsuit accusing Perry of sexual assault and workplace retaliation.

In an emotional interview with ABC News, Dixon described the fear and humiliation he says he experienced while working with Perry, explaining that he could no longer remain silent. According to Dixon, the abuse began with persistent and suggestive text messages, including one where Perry allegedly asked, “What’s it going to take for you to have guiltless sex?”

Dixon claims the situation escalated during an overnight stay in Perry’s guest house. He said Perry entered his bedroom without consent, climbed into his bed and began rubbing his leg. Dixon says he leapt from the bed in shock. He further alleges that Perry later pinned him against a trailer wall, groped him and on another occasion forcibly pulled down his underwear while taking a weight measurement.

The actor also says his professional career suffered after he rejected Perry’s advances. He claims Perry retaliated by writing his character off The Oval and blocking a pilot project Dixon had been developing. Feeling cornered, Dixon filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in 2024, but says no action was taken, leaving him to walk away from the show entirely.

The lawsuit seeks $260 million in damages, which Dixon argues reflects the income and opportunities he lost as well as the need to hold powerful figures accountable. He said the staggering amount is meant to send a message that even billionaires cannot act without consequences.Tyler Perry, through his attorney, has strongly denied the allegations. His legal team has described the claims as false, insisting that Perry will not be intimidated or shaken down.

Dixon, however, says his decision to come forward is not about money but about justice. He hopes that speaking out will help protect other actors and creatives in the entertainment industry from enduring similar experiences. For him, breaking the silence has been both painful and necessary, a step toward reclaiming his voice after what he describes as a period of deep fear and isolation.

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Kayla Nicole has made her first public appearance since her ex-boyfriend, NFL star Travis Kelce, announced his engagement to Taylor Swift. The podcaster attended the House of Champion event during New York Fashion Week on Thursday, September 11, where she spoke to PEOPLE about the lessons she has learned over the past year. Nicole and Kelce, the Kansas City Chiefs tight end, began dating in 2017 and were in an on-and-off relationship for five years before parting ways in 2022.

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Singer Keke Wyatt has addressed recent allegations made by her 23-year-old son, Rahjah Ke’ Morton, who claimed in a viral TikTok video that she referred to his cancer diagnosis as “karma” for being gay.

Rahjah, a cancer survivor, participated in the “Put a Finger Down” TikTok challenge to share a deeply painful experience. He alleged that his mother publicly showcased his leukemia diagnosis when he was a teen, suggesting it was used for attention. He then revealed that, privately, Wyatt told him the illness was “karma” for his sexuality and implied that, had she known he was gay, “they would’ve kept their money.”

Following the wave of reactions online, Wyatt released a brief public response. She emphasized her love for her son and for all her children, stating that anyone who truly knows her would understand there is “not a homophobic bone” in her body. She acknowledged that not every day is perfect but insisted her love remains unwavering. Wyatt also asked the public to respect her family’s privacy and offered up prayers instead of criticism.

Rahjah’s TikTok videos also clarified his health status. He confirmed that he is cancer-free and in remission since August 2020, nearly five years. He shared that while his journey has had its struggles, including coping with hair loss, he’s doing well and adjusting to regular life. He also discussed the emotional weight of being “Brother Daddy” to his siblings, helping raise them while seeking healing and reconnection.

Her public denial has been succinct. She affirmed her love for her children and denied any homophobic intent. However, she did not directly address all of her son’s specific claims about exploitation or karma. Her request for privacy suggests she may not wish to delve deeper into the situation publicly, at least for now. As the story continues to gain attention, it remains unclear whether Wyatt or her son will elaborate further.

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Kamala Harris has issued her most direct rebuke of Joe Biden to date, describing his choice to pursue a second term as “recklessness” in her upcoming memoir _107 Days_. “‘It’s Joe and Jill’s decision.’ We all said that, like a mantra, as if we’d all been hypnotized,” Harris writes in an excerpt published by _The Atlantic_. “Was it grace, or was it recklessness? In retrospect, I think it was recklessness.”

Harris explains that she felt unable to directly advise Biden against running. “I knew it would come off to him as incredibly self-serving if I advised him not to run,” she wrote. “He would see it as naked ambition, perhaps as poisonous disloyalty, even if my only message was: Don’t let the other guy win.” She added, “As loyal as I am to President Biden, I am more loyal to my country.”

At 81, Biden’s debate stumbles and fatigue raised doubts about his candidacy. “On his worst day, he was more deeply knowledgeable, more
capable of exercising judgment, and far more compassionate than Donald Trump on his best,” Harris wrote. “But at 81, Joe got tired. That’s when his age showed in physical and verbal stumbles.”

In her memoir, Harris reflects on the challenges she faced as vice president, including her efforts to bring in significant private-sector investments aimed at improving conditions in Latin America to reduce migration. Rather than being acknowledged for these contributions, she says her role was misrepresented in political debates, while the White House communications team failed to defend her or emphasize the progress achieved under her leadership.

Harris believed that Biden’s team often worked against her rather than offering support. She recalled that negative stories about her were left unchallenged, and at times it seemed as though his advisers preferred to see her diminished. In her view, they treated her successes as a liability, assuming that any recognition she received would take away from Biden, instead of understanding that her achievements could have strengthened his position.

Harris’s memoir, which chronicles her 107-day presidential campaign and her complex relationship with Biden, will be released on September 23.