Tyler Perry is facing serious allegations as a second actor, Mario Rodriguez, has filed a lawsuit accusing him of sexual assault. This claims come shortly after actor Derek Dixon also filed a lawsuit against Perry, seeking $260 million for incidents of sexual assault and harassment.
In Rodriguez’s lawsuit, he recounts multiple instances of unwanted sexual advances from Perry. He claims that their initial contact occurred through a trainer at Equinox, where Perry allegedly expressed the benefits of having him in his circle, particularly when inviting Rodriguez to audition for the film “Boo! A Madea Halloween.”
Following his acceptance of the role, Rodriguez states that he was invited to Perry’s Los Angeles home. During this visit, which included drinks and a movie, Rodriguez alleges that Perry inappropriately touched him by rubbing his inner thigh, close to his groin.
The lawsuit highlights a particularly troubling encounter from 2018, after a dinner at Mastro’s Steakhouse, where Perry reportedly reached into Rodriguez’s underwear and grabbed his genitals while driving back to Perry’s residence. Rodriguez claims that after managing to escape the situation, Perry offered him an apology along with $5,000.
Alex Spiro, Perry’s attorney, has vehemently denied these allegations, describing them as a continued effort by a lawyer who has previously failed to obtain favorable outcomes against Perry. Spiro referred to the lawsuit as a baseless money grab from events that allegedly occurred over a decade ago.
Rodriguez’s claims are compounded by the ongoing legal battle with Dixon, whose lawsuit has been transitioned from state court in California to federal court in Georgia. As the legal proceedings unfold, these developments have sparked significant attention and discourse regarding accountability and the culture of silence within the entertainment industry.