Tyler Perry is facing a second lawsuit that accuses him of sexual assault, filed by actor Mario Rodriguez, who appeared in the 2016 film “Boo! A Madea Halloween.”
Rodriguez’s complaint, filed Thursday in California, alleges that Perry subjected him to repeated unwanted sexual advances over several years, including sexual battery and assault at Perry’s Los Angeles home.
The actor seeks at least $77 million in damages and has also sued Lionsgate, the distributor of the film, claiming the studio ignored Perry’s alleged misconduct.
Lionsgate has not yet responded to a request for comment.
Perry’s lawyer issued a statement denying all allegations.
According to the complaint, Rodriguez was approached in 2014 by a trainer at an Equinox gym in Los Angeles who said Perry wanted his phone number to discuss an acting role.
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.”
After Rodriguez was cast, the lawsuit claims he was invited to Perry’s home, where Perry allegedly touched him inappropriately while they watched a movie.
The complaint lists additional alleged incidents in 2016, 2018 and 2019, including an encounter in which Perry allegedly tried to unbuckle Rodriguez’s pants and another in which he placed Rodriguez’s hand on his genitals.
The filing also states that Perry gave Rodriguez $5,000 on multiple occasions following the encounters.
Rodriguez says he resisted the advances and decided to file suit after learning of similar allegations made by another actor, Derek Dixon.
Dixon sued Perry in June, alleging the filmmaker groped him while Dixon worked on Perry’s television series “The Oval” and “Ruthless.”
That lawsuit was originally filed in Los Angeles Superior Court and has reportedly since been moved to federal court in Georgia, where Perry’s studio is based.
Rodriguez’s lawsuit includes claims of sexual assault, sexual battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
The complaint also alleges that Perry’s actions caused Rodriguez significant emotional distress, a claim that could add to the damages sought.
The case is part of a growing number of accusations against Perry, with the Dixon lawsuit being the first of the two in recent months.
Both lawsuits highlight allegations that Perry used his industry influence to pursue unwanted sexual advances.
The legal filings are still in the early stages, with no court dates set for hearings yet.
Rodriguez’s suit will be heard in California, while Dixon’s case is now in federal court in Georgia.
The outcome of these lawsuits could have significant implications for the filmmaker’s career and for the broader Hollywood community.
Key Takeaways
- Mario Rodriguez files a $77 million lawsuit against Tyler Perry for repeated sexual assault.
- The complaint accuses Perry of sexual battery, assault, and emotional distress over several years.
- Lionsgate is also sued for allegedly overlooking the misconduct.
The lawsuits underscore a pattern of alleged misconduct by the filmmaker and raise questions about accountability in Hollywood.
