LOS ANGELES — Filmmaker and media mogul Tyler Perry has been sued for sexual assault by an actor who appeared in the 2016 film Boo! A Madea Halloween, marking the second lawsuit in recent months accusing Perry of abusing his position of power in the entertainment industry, according to the Associated Press (AP).
The lawsuit was filed on Thursday in California by actor Mario Rodriguez, who alleges that Perry subjected him to repeated and unwanted sexual advances over several years. Rodriguez is seeking at least $77 million in damages and has also named Lionsgate, the distributor of Boo! A Madea Halloween, as a defendant, accusing the studio of failing to intervene despite being aware of Perry’s alleged conduct.
Lionsgate did not immediately respond to requests for comment, AP reported.
Perry’s attorney has strongly denied the allegations, calling them untrue.
According to the complaint, Rodriguez says he was first contacted in 2014 by a trainer at an Equinox gym in Los Angeles who told him that Perry wanted his phone number to discuss a possible acting opportunity. Perry later encouraged Rodriguez to audition for Boo! A Madea Halloween, allegedly telling him that he would be a valuable ally in the industry.
After Rodriguez was cast in the film, the lawsuit claims he was invited to Perry’s Los Angeles home, where Perry allegedly touched him inappropriately while they watched a movie. The complaint outlines further alleged incidents in 2016, 2018 and 2019, including claims that Perry attempted to unbuckle Rodriguez’s pants during one encounter and, in another, placed Rodriguez’s hand on his genitals.
Rodriguez alleges that Perry gave him $5,000 on multiple occasions following these encounters. He says he resisted the advances and ultimately decided to file the lawsuit after learning of similar accusations made by another actor.
In June, actor Derek Dixon filed a separate lawsuit against Perry, alleging he was groped while working on Perry’s television series The Oval and Ruthless. That case, initially filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, has since been moved to federal court in Georgia, where Perry’s studio is headquartered, according to AP.
Rodriguez’s lawsuit includes claims of sexual assault, sexual battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Perry has not personally commented on the latest filing, but his legal team maintains that the allegations are false.
The lawsuits come as Perry, one of Hollywood’s most influential producers and studio owners, faces increasing legal scrutiny amid broader conversations in the entertainment industry about power, accountability and misconduct.
