Perry Faces New $77 Million Sexual Assault Lawsuit
Tyler Perry is now contending with a $77 million lawsuit following a second actor’s accusations of sexual assault.
Mario Rodriguez, who had a small part in Perry’s film Boo! A Madea Halloween, submitted the lawsuit against the actor and Lionsgate films in California on Thursday, December 25, according to People and Page Six.
Within the lawsuit, Rodriguez reportedly alleged Perry sexually assaulted him and made unwelcome advances while promising him future acting roles – claims that Perry’s attorney Alex Spiro dismissed as an attempt to obtain money.
Page Six reported that Rodriguez claimed through the lawsuit that Perry “held him in a tight embrace,” “reached into Mr. Rodriguez’s undergarments” and touched his genitals during a 2018 incident. The pair had reportedly gone to Perry’s residence after Perry invited Rodriguez to dinner at Mastro’s Steakhouse in Beverly Hills, California to discuss a potential role in his series, The Oval.
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“Mr. Perry was emitting sexual moaning sounds and saying, ‘Stay here, stay here,’ while he pressed his body against Mr. Rodriguez and continued to grab his penis,” the court documents stated, per Page Six.
People reported that during one of the alleged unwanted advances, Perry encouraged Rodriguez to “let it happen” and told him, “If you were to be with me, I would look after you….”
According to both outlets, Rodriguez also claimed via the lawsuit that after two instances of unwelcome advances, Perry apologized and gave him $5,000.
Rodriguez, who is requesting $77 million in damages, is being represented by attorney Jonathan J. Delshad. Delshad also represented actor Derek Dixon, who previously made sexual assault allegations against Perry.
“Having recently lost in another case against Mr. Perry, the very same lawyer has now presented another demand from more than a decade ago which will also be a failed attempt to get money,” Perry’s attorney Spiro told Us Weekly in a statement on Friday, December 26.
Posting to his Instagram on December 13, Rodriguez spoke about an unnamed “powerful” director “that everyone knows.” He explained in the post that he felt “scared and ashamed.”
“I remained silent for far too long. And I simply want to say I’m truly sorry, man. Because if I had spoken up sooner I could have potentially saved someone that this probably happened to after me,” he said in the video. “I just want to apologize for that, whoever that may be. It could have stopped with me if I would have said something. … But I am speaking up now.”
Us Weekly has reached out to Rodriguez’s representatives for a response.
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In June, Perry faced a similar legal action when Dixon sued Perry and his production company over alleged sexual assault on the set of The Oval. Dixon was seeking $260 million in damages from Perry and his production company.
Perry informed the court that actor Dixon’s lawsuit accusing him of sexual assault was “deeply disappointing, cynical and – above all – false,” Us Weekly reported in October.
“Dixon fabricates alleged assaults and encounters that never occurred. Mr. Perry never assaulted Dixon or committed any sexual battery. He did not offer Dixon pay increases and assign Dixon’s television pilot script to threaten, coerce, or control Dixon,” the court filing read.
“Dixon earned through his own abilities whatever professional opportunities he received from [Perry and his company],” Perry’s lawyer noted. “And it is significant that in his effort to exploit his friendship and professional relationship with Mr. Perry to obtain a $260 million payout, Dixon was compelled to lie not only about Mr. Perry, but about himself as well.”
