Tyler Perry Faces New Sexual Assault Lawsuit From ‘Madea’ Movie Actor

Tyler Perry is facing a new s**** assault lawsuit from Mario Rodriguez, an actor who appeared in the film Boo! A Madea Halloween. The lawsuit, filed Thursday in California state court, accuses Perry of multiple instances of unwanted s***** contact at his Los Angeles home over several years.

Rodriguez claims that Perry made repeated s**** advances toward him, including an incident in 2018 in which the filmmaker “tightly hugged” him and “grabbed his p***.” The complaint also includes allegations of s**** assault, s**** battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

Rodriguez is also suing Lionsgate, which distributed the film, alleging the studio ignored Perry’s alleged misconduct. He is seeking at least $77 million in damages.

Tyler Perry’s lawyer, Alex Spiro, denied the allegations. “Having recently failed in another matter against Mr. Perry, the very same lawyer has now made yet another demand from more than a decade ago which will also be a failed money grab,” Spiro told The Hollywood Reporter.

This is the second public lawsuit accusing Perry of using his Hollywood influence to assault aspiring male actors. Derek Dixon, who appeared in The Oval and Ruthless, sued Perry in June, claiming that Perry pinned him against a wall and groped him.

According to Rodriguez’s lawsuit, a gym trainer at Equinox in Los Angeles contacted him in 2014, saying Perry wanted his phone number to discuss an acting role. That same day, Perry allegedly called and encouraged him to audition for Boo! A Madea Halloween, saying, “You know Mario, I’m not a bad person to know and have in your corner.”

After Rodriguez was cast, he claims Perry invited him to his home, where the filmmaker allegedly made unwanted s**** advances. The lawsuit details several incidents between 2014 and 2019, including one at Perry’s home after a dinner meeting in Beverly Hills for a role in The Oval.

Perry allegedly attempted to unbuckle Rodriguez’s pants and grabbed him while saying, “Stay here, stay here.” Rodriguez reportedly freed himself and was given $5,000 afterward. Another incident in 2019 involved Perry allegedly placing Rodriguez’s hand on his p**** and offering financial rewards for compliance.

Rodriguez, who has also appeared in The Family Business and works as a model, said he decided to come forward after learning about Dixon’s lawsuit. “I realized that Mr. Perry was continuing to use his power and influence to s***** assault hopeful actors and, with the voice of others, decided that it was time to tell his story, to obtain justice, and to finally stop Mr. Perry,” he said in the complaint.

Dixon’s case has since been moved to federal court in Georgia. Both lawsuits add to the ongoing scrutiny of Perry’s conduct in Hollywood, as multiple actors have now come forward with allegations.

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