Tyler Perry Slams $77M Sexual Assault Lawsuit as “Money Grab” in Explosive Court Filing

Tyler Perry is fighting back hard against a $77 million sexual assault lawsuit, with his legal team branding the case a “money grab” and accusing the plaintiff of exploiting the filmmaker’s generosity for years. In a fiery court response filed February 27 in Los Angeles County Superior Court, Perry denied “every allegation” made by actor Mario Rodriguez and laid out 19 affirmative defenses.

Rodriguez, who had a minor role as “Frat Guy #10” in Perry’s 2016 film Boo! A Madea Halloween filed the lawsuit on Christmas Day 2025, alleging sexual battery and assault spanning from 2016 to 2019. But Perry’s legal team, led by high-profile attorney Alex Spiro, paints a very different picture of the relationship.

According to Perry’s court filing, Rodriguez “repeatedly turned to Perry as his personal piggy bank” after landing the minor role in the Halloween comedy nearly a decade ago. The response claims Rodriguez repeatedly asked Perry for financial help covering expenses, including housing, car payments, unpaid bills, and medical services.

“When Plaintiff’s repeated requests for more financial assistance were met with silence, angry at the loss of his golden goose, Plaintiff spun a false tale that the two had a nonconsensual relationship,” Perry’s filing states. The document alleges Rodriguez “twisted the true reason for the payments to ignite a media firestorm, all to fuel his final money grab and thrust him into the spotlight”.

Perry’s attorneys characterize Rodriguez’s visits to the director’s home from 2016 to 2019 as part of “a feigned friendship” in which “Rodriguez repeatedly preyed on Perry’s generosity”.

Shortly after Rodriguez filed his lawsuit, text messages allegedly exchanged between the two men surfaced, showing Rodriguez reaching out to Perry with warm, appreciative language and later sharing details about his financial struggles.

In a Thanksgiving 2024 exchange, Rodriguez allegedly texted Perry: “Just know that I love you and I thank you for everything. I appreciate you to the moon… I can’t buy you anything, but I just wanna tell you that your boy right here appreciates you more than anything”.

Perry appears to have responded: “Happy Thanksgiving my friend. Yeap you’ve been through it. I’m glad you’re doing well. You don’t have to give me a thing or pay me a thing. I’m just glad you’re good”.

In August 2025, just months before filing the lawsuit, Rodriguez allegedly texted Perry about health concerns and financial desperation, writing: “I promised you I would never ask you for anything, but if it what I think it is, I don’t think I could do it on my own because I barely pay my bills scared af I don’t want to get sepsis like my dad and pass away” .

Rodriguez has addressed the text messages, arguing they don’t contradict his claims. In a statement shared after his lawsuit was filed, he said: “People are pointing to messages where I was polite, grateful, or vulnerable and trying to use that to discredit me. When someone has influence over your career, your income, your future, you don’t feel free. Survivors often stay cordial. They often ask for help when they feel desperate. That does not mean abuse didn’t happen”.

He added: “Continued financial support and access are not inconsistent with abuse, they are often part of the power dynamics that follow it. In many situations involving exploitation, money can function as a way to manage guilt, avoid conflict, or maintain silence”.

Rodriguez’s lawsuit alleges a pattern of predatory behavior spanning several years. According to the complaint, Rodriguez was first approached in 2014 by a trainer at an Equinox gym in Los Angeles who said Perry wanted his phone number to discuss an acting role. Perry later encouraged Rodriguez to audition for Boo! A Madea Halloween, allegedly telling him, “I’m not a bad person to know and have in your corner”.

After Rodriguez was cast, he claims he was invited to Perry’s home, where Perry allegedly touched him inappropriately while they watched a movie. The lawsuit describes additional alleged incidents in 2016, 2018, and 2019, including one encounter where Perry allegedly attempted to unbuckle Rodriguez’s pants and another where Perry placed Rodriguez’s hand on his genitals.

The complaint claims that after two incidents, Perry allegedly apologized, handed him $5,000 “and sent him away”. At a final alleged encounter in April 2019, the lawsuit states: “More than ever before, it was clear that Mr. Perry would do whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted, to whomever he wanted no matter how many times he was rejected” .

Rodriguez is also suing Lionsgate, which distributed the 2016 film, accusing the studio of turning a blind eye to Perry’s alleged misconduct.

This is the second major sexual assault lawsuit filed against Perry in recent months. In June 2025, Derek Dixon, who starred in Perry’s series The Oval, filed a $260 million lawsuit alleging sexual harassment, assault, and retaliation. That case has been moved from California to federal court in Georgia, where Perry’s studio is based.

Notably, both Rodriguez and Dixon share the same attorney, Jonathan J. Delshad, raising questions about a coordinated legal strategy against the entertainment mogul. Perry’s attorney previously called Dixon’s case “nothing more than setting up a scam” and vowed Perry “will not be shaken down”.

Along with his response, Perry’s team filed a notice of removal seeking to move Rodriguez’s case to federal court, arguing that California state court lacks proper jurisdiction since Perry’s primary residence is in Georgia.

Perry’s attorney Alex Spiro has been consistent in his messaging since the lawsuit was filed, stating in December: “I said it before and I will say it again. This is nothing but a 77 million dollar money grab scam”.

With both sides presenting dramatically different narratives, the legal battle is just heating up. Rodriguez is seeking $77 million in damages for sexual assault, sexual battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Perry is asking the court to dismiss the complaint entirely and award him nothing.

As the case moves toward federal court, the dueling stories of exploitation versus generosity, of assault versus consensual encounters will ultimately be tested by evidence and testimony. For now, both men stand by their versions of the truth.