Everything We Know About the $77 Million Sexual Assault Lawsuit Filed Against Tyler Perry

'A Boo! A Madea Halloween' actor has sued Tyler Perry for $77 million, alleging sexual assault and abuse of power.

Actor Mario Rodriguez has filed a $77 million lawsuit accusing filmmaker and media mogul Tyler Perry of sexual assault, sexual battery and emotional distress, marking the second lawsuit in recent months alleging that Perry used his influence in Hollywood to make unwanted sexual advances toward actors seeking work.

Rodriguez, who appeared in the 2016 film Boo! A Madea Halloween, filed the civil complaint Thursday in California. The lawsuit alleges that Perry subjected him to repeated and unwanted sexual contact between 2015 and 2019, including incidents that allegedly took place at Perry’s Los Angeles home.

Rodriguez also sued Lionsgate, the distributor of Boo! A Madea Halloween, accusing the studio of negligent retention and of turning a blind eye to Perry’s alleged misconduct. Lionsgate did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Perry’s attorney has denied the allegations. In a statement, attorney Alex Spiro described the lawsuit as “nothing but a 77 million dollar money grab scam.”

According to the complaint, Rodriguez was initially approached in 2015 by a trainer at an Equinox gym in Los Angeles who said Perry wanted his phone number to discuss a potential acting opportunity. Perry later encouraged Rodriguez to audition for Boo! A Madea Halloween, telling him, “I’m not a bad person to know and have in your corner,” the lawsuit states.

After Rodriguez was cast in a minor role, the lawsuit alleges that Perry invited him to his home, where Perry touched him inappropriately while they watched a movie. The complaint details additional alleged encounters in 2016, 2018 and 2019, including one in which Perry allegedly tried to unbuckle Rodriguez’s pants and another in which Perry allegedly placed Rodriguez’s hand on his genitals. The lawsuit claims Perry gave Rodriguez $5,000 on multiple occasions following the encounters.

Rodriguez alleges he resisted Perry’s advances and ultimately cut off contact in 2019. He said he decided to file suit after learning of similar allegations made by another actor, Derek Dixon.

Dixon sued Perry in June, alleging that the filmmaker groped him and engaged in quid pro quo sexual harassment while Dixon worked on Perry’s television series The Oval and Ruthless. Dixon is seeking $260 million in damages. That lawsuit, originally filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, has since been moved to federal court in Georgia, where Perry’s studio is based.

In Rodriguez’s case, the lawsuit includes claims of sexual assault, sexual battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress. The complaint alleges Perry leveraged his stature in the entertainment industry “to abuse and sexually assault people who hope to secure roles in his movies,” echoing claims made in Dixon’s lawsuit.

In the days following the filing, attention has turned to text messages exchanged between Rodriguez and Perry in the years after the alleged assaults. Screenshots of messages obtained by multiple outlets, including the Associated Press, show Rodriguez expressing gratitude toward Perry and reaching out about personal struggles months before filing the lawsuit.

In one message sent around Thanksgiving 2024, Rodriguez wrote, “Just know that I love you and I thank you for everything, I appreciate you to the moon,” according to screenshots published by TMZ. In another series of messages sent Aug. 31, Rodriguez told Perry he was experiencing health issues and did not have health insurance.

“I know I promised you I would never ask you for anything, but if it is what I think it is, I don’t think I could do it on my own because I barely pay my bills,” Rodriguez wrote in one message, according to TMZ. “I just can’t go to the doctor because I can’t even afford it,” he said in another, adding, “I don’t want anything. I just wanna be OK. Scared brother.”

In a statement released Monday, Rodriguez addressed the messages directly, saying they are being used to discredit him and misunderstand how survivors often navigate relationships with powerful figures.

“Survivors often stay cordial. They often ask for help when they feel desperate,” Rodriguez said. “That does not mean abuse didn’t happen. Those text messages were sent to Perry at a time when I was especially vulnerable.”

He added that financial assistance and continued contact are often part of the power dynamics that follow abuse. “The existence of financial assistance does not disprove harm,” Rodriguez said. “It is entirely consistent with the complex realities survivors face after abuse.”

According to the lawsuit, Rodriguez began his career as a model before being connected to Perry. The complaint alleges the first assault occurred in 2015, when Perry invited Rodriguez to his home under the pretense of discussing work. Perry allegedly asked Rodriguez to leave his phone in the kitchen, questioned him about his personal life, hugged him and touched his shoulders, chest and inner thigh, the lawsuit states.

The alleged misconduct continued after filming wrapped in 2016, the complaint says, with Perry inviting Rodriguez back to his home to discuss future roles. In November 2018, the lawsuit alleges, Perry invited Rodriguez to dinner to discuss a possible role on The Oval. Later that night, Perry allegedly attempted to unbuckle Rodriguez’s pants and touched his genitals before placing $5,000 in his pocket as Rodriguez left in a rideshare.

After an alleged incident in April 2019, Rodriguez says he stopped communicating with Perry. The lawsuit claims Perry responded with angry, expletive-filled messages and demands for regular contact, including requests for photos of Rodriguez’s body.

Rodriguez and Dixon are both represented by attorney Jonathan J. Delshad.

As the lawsuits proceed, the allegations have intensified scrutiny of power, access and accountability in Hollywood, particularly as more survivors continue to challenge the idea that politeness, gratitude or silence negate claims of abuse.