Tyler Perry has denied a $77 million sexual assault lawsuit filed against him, with his legal team describing the claims as baseless and an extortion attempt, according to court filings in Los Angeles.
On December 25, Mario Rodriguez, who appeared with Perry in 2016’s Boo! A Madea Halloween sued the billionaire filmmaker for alleged sexual battery and assault.
He claimed the filmmaker subjected him to unwanted sexual advances on multiple occasions between 2014 and 2019.
Perry’s attorneys, including high-profile lawyer Alex Spiro, filed a formal response on February 27 in Los Angeles County Superior Court denying the allegations made by Rodriguez.
According to court documents obtained by TMZ, Perry, who wrote, directed, and starred in the film in which Rodriguez had “a very minor role,” said the allegations outlined in the lawsuit “have no basis in fact or law and no merit.”
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In the court filing, Perry’s legal team argued that after being cast in a small role, Rodriguez “repeatedly turned to Perry as his personal piggy bank,” allegedly requesting financial assistance for housing, transportation, unpaid bills and medical services.
According to the filing, when Tyler Perry, 56, stopped providing money, Rodriguez allegedly fabricated claims of a nonconsensual relationship to “ignite a media firestorm” and secure a financial payout.
In June 2025, another actor, Derek Dixon, also filed a separate $260 million lawsuit against Perry alleging sexual harassment.
Perry has consistently denied all allegations of sexual misconduct, maintaining that he has never engaged in non-consensual relationships with anyone. His legal team said they are prepared to “vigorously defend” him in court and seek dismissal of what they describe as unfounded claims.
Recall that Perry, one of Hollywood’s most influential filmmakers and the creator of the popular Madea franchise, built a multibillion-dollar entertainment empire through film, television, and studio production. Over the years, he has positioned himself as a champion of independent Black storytelling in the U.S. film industry.
The current lawsuit marks one of the most serious legal challenges the media mogul has faced in his decades-long career. Legal analysts say the case could attract significant public attention given Perry’s high-profile status and the size of the damages being sought.
The Los Angeles court is expected to set further hearings in the matter, as both sides prepare for what could become a protracted legal battle over the allegations and counterclaims.
The Cable
