Tyler Perry Faces $77 Million Sexual Assault Lawsuit from Actor

A second actor has filed a sexual assault lawsuit against Tyler Perry, claiming damages of $77 million. The suit, lodged on December 25, 2023, by Mario Rodriguez, who appeared in a minor role in *Boo! A Madea Halloween*, alleges that Perry sexually assaulted him and made inappropriate advances under the guise of promising future acting roles.

According to court documents, the alleged incidents occurred in 2018 after Rodriguez and Perry had dinner to discuss a potential role in *The Oval*. Rodriguez claims that Perry “tightly hugged” him and reached into his underwear, touching his genitals while making sexual noises and urging him to “stay here.” The documents detail that Perry allegedly told Rodriguez, “If you were to just be with me, I would take care of you.”

Following the incidents, Rodriguez asserts that Perry offered him $5,000 and apologized for his actions. This lawsuit follows a similar claim made by another actor, Derek Dixon, who is seeking $260 million from Perry for an alleged assault on the same television set. Perry’s attorney, Alex Spiro, has dismissed the current lawsuit as a “money grab,” noting that Rodriguez’s attorney, Jonathan J. Delshad, previously represented Dixon and failed in that case.

Rodriguez took to social media on December 13, 2023, to address the alleged assaults, stating, “I stayed quiet for much too long. And I just want to say I’m really sorry, man. Because if I would’ve spoken up sooner, I could’ve saved somebody that this probably happened to after me.” Although he did not name Perry directly in the video, he referenced being victimized by a “powerful” director.

The allegations against Perry continue to attract significant media attention. In response to the claims made by Dixon, Perry’s legal team has stated that the actor invented the allegations and denied any wrongdoing. Court documents assert, “Mr. Perry never assaulted Dixon or committed any sexual battery.”

Both lawsuits remain active as the legal proceedings unfold. The Mirror US has reached out to Tyler Perry’s representatives for further comment on the latest allegations.