LOS ANGELES, December 26, 2025 — Actor and model Mario Rodriguez has filed a $77 million lawsuit against Tyler Perry, alleging sexual assault and unwanted sexual advances. The suit, filed Thursday, claims Perry leveraged promises of roles to perpetrate the alleged abuse over several years.
Allegations Detail Years of Abuse
Rodriguez claims Perry exploited his aspirations for a career in entertainment, creating a pattern of alleged abuse spanning multiple encounters.
- Rodriguez alleges Perry sexually assaulted him in November 2018, grabbing his penis against his will.
- The lawsuit claims Perry offered financial compensation after some incidents, handing Rodriguez $5,000 following two alleged assaults.
- Rodriguez first met Perry approximately 10 years ago at an Equinox gym, leading to a dinner invitation to discuss a potential role.
- Perry’s legal counsel dismissed the lawsuit as a “failed money grab” and linked it to a previous unsuccessful claim against the media mogul.
- Rodriguez is represented by the same attorney who represented another actor who previously made similar allegations against Perry.
Rodriguez, who had a minor role in Perry’s 2016 film Boo! A Madea Halloween, alleges the assaults occurred over a period of years. The actor states he and Perry initially met around 2015 at an Equinox gym. Perry then invited Rodriguez to dinner at Mastro’s Steakhouse in Beverly Hills, California, to discuss a possible role in his series, “The Oval.” Rodriguez claims the alleged assault took place after this dinner.
According to the lawsuit, in November 2018, Perry allegedly “grabbed [Rodriguez’s] penis” and Rodriguez “repeatedly told Mr. Perry to stop” and had to “physically struggle to get away.” Perry allegedly told Rodriguez to “let it happen” and “If you were to just be with me, I would take care of you….” Following two alleged incidents, Perry reportedly apologized, handed Rodriguez $5,000, and “sent him away.”
Perry’s attorney, Alex Spiro, released a statement on December 26, characterizing the lawsuit as a rehash of previous unsuccessful claims. Spiro stated, “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.”
Rodriguez is represented by attorney Jonathan J. Delshad, who also represented Derek Dixon, another actor who previously made similar allegations against Perry, 56, earlier this year. Delshad stated Dixon’s claims “are alive and well, and none of them have failed; they were just moved to a different court,” as the case is relocated from California to Georgia.
“Mr. Rodriguez is looking forward to his day in court and holding Mr. Perry accountable for his actions. We do hope a jury awards enough money to make Perry regret his actions,” Delshad said. “Unfortunately, statements like those made by Perry’s attorneys do nothing but enable Mr. Perry to continue to victimize people like Mr. Rodriguez. My client looks forward to a jury’s determination of what happened.”
Perry has denied all allegations through his representative, describing the claims as unfounded. The matters are ongoing in court.
