Filmmaker and media mogul Tyler Perry is facing a second lawsuit alleging sexual assault. Actor Mario Rodriguez filed a complaint on Thursday in the Los Angeles Superior Court, seeking $77 million in damages. The lawsuit also names the production company Lionsgate as a defendant.
Rodriguez claims he was subjected to multiple instances of sexual assault at Perry’s Los Angeles home, following his audition for a role in the 2016 comedy Boo! A Madea Halloween. The lawsuit states that Rodriguez had no prior acting experience when he auditioned but was approached by a trainer at an Equinox gym in 2015 regarding a potential role as a “very good-looking college student” in the film.
The complaint details several unwanted sexual advances from Perry over the years. In particular, Rodriguez recounts two incidents between 2018 and 2019, during which Perry allegedly apologized for his behavior and slipped $5,000 into Rodriguez’s pocket on both occasions as he left.
This lawsuit marks the second time Perry has been accused of sexual misconduct this year. In June, actor Derek Dixon, who appeared in Perry’s television series The Oval, filed a lawsuit seeking $260 million. Dixon alleged that Perry subjected him to escalating sexual harassment, assault, and professional retaliation after he did not reciprocate Perry’s advances. Matthew Boyd, Perry’s attorney in that case, characterized the lawsuit as “without merit” and a “scam.”
Both Dixon and Rodriguez are represented by attorney Jonathan Delshad, while Alex Spiro, who is defending Perry in the latest lawsuit, stated that the claims are part of a pattern of unsuccessful demands from the same lawyer. Spiro remarked that his client had yet to be served with the latest complaint.
Lionsgate has not provided a comment regarding the ongoing situation. Perry is widely recognized for his contributions to the entertainment industry, having written and directed numerous plays, films, and television shows that depict Black life in America, including the popular Madea series.
In 2019, he opened a significant 330-acre studio complex in Atlanta, which has hosted productions such as Black Panther and The Walking Dead. As these legal matters unfold, the allegations against Perry continue to draw attention within the industry and beyond.
