Actor and model Mario Rodriguez has formalized legal action against influential director and producer Tyler Perry in a court of Califórnia, adding a new chapter to the controversies surrounding the filmmaker. The lawsuit, filed on December 25, 2025, details serious allegations of sexual assault and harassment, as well as intentional infliction of emotional distress, marking the second time in a short period that Perry has faced allegations of this nature.
In the complaint, Rodriguez seeks financial compensation of at least 77 million dollars for moral and psychological damages. The action is not limited to Perry, but also includes the distributor Lionsgate as a defendant, alleging that the company was or should have been aware of the producer’s inappropriate behavior during collaboration on film projects.
The legal document lists a series of incidents that allegedly occurred over several years in which Perry allegedly used his position of power and influence in the entertainment industry to coerce and harass the actor. Perry’s defense, in turn, vehemently denies all accusations and classifies the process as an extortion attempt.
The chronology of the facts according to the accusation
The initial contact between Mario Rodriguez and Tyler Perry would have occurred between 2014 and 2015, when a trainer from a gym in Pouco some time later, Perry offered Rodriguez a small role in the comedy and horror film “Boo! A Madea Halloween”, released in 2016, in which the actor played a secondary character. Essa professional opportunity, according to the lawsuit, was the starting point for a series of meetings that would become the center of the allegations.
After filming was completed, the lawsuit alleges that Perry began repeatedly inviting Rodriguez to his private residence. The invitations were made under the pretext of discussing future projects and career opportunities, creating professional expectations in the actor. However, the complaint contends that these meetings were actually a front for the director’s non-consensual sexual advances, establishing a pattern of abuse of power that spanned nearly five years.
Details of alleged harassment incidents
The lawsuit describes multiple episodes of unwanted sexual advances that allegedly occurred between 2015 and 2019. On one occasion, during a movie session at the producer’s home, Perry allegedly placed his hand on Rodriguez’s leg and rubbed the inside of her thigh, causing immediate embarrassment.
One of the most serious incidents narrated in the process dates back to November 2018. Após at dinner, Perry allegedly hugged Rodriguez tightly and then grabbed his private parts, ignoring the actor’s verbal and physical refusals to stop. The complaint states that the situation was a clear violation of his physical integrity.
Another episode, which occurred in 2019, involved a new attempt at forced physical contact, in which Perry allegedly tried to unbutton Rodriguez’s pants and put the actor’s hand on his own private parts. The lawsuit states that after two of these incidents, Perry apologized and handed Rodriguez the sum of $5,000 in cash.
The motivation for the complaint and public statements
Mario Rodriguez stated that the decision to file the lawsuit was motivated after learning of similar allegations made by another actor against Tyler Perry. Sentindo-encouraged, he decided to break the silence he had maintained for years out of shame and fear of professional retaliation in Hollywood.
In a video posted to his Instagram account on December 13, without directly mentioning Perry by name, Rodriguez spoke candidly about his experience. Ele apologized to the public for not speaking out sooner, expressing the belief that his reporting could have prevented others from becoming victims.
Rodriguez’s lawyer, Jonathan Delshad, reinforced that his client’s main objective is to seek justice and ensure that there is accountability for the acts described. The complaint includes what would be text messages exchanged between the two, which would serve as evidence of persistent contacts until the year 2024.
The exposure of the case gained strength on social media, where the actor has almost a million followers, generating an intense debate about abuse of power in the film industry. The initial repercussion highlights the importance of a safe environment for professionals looking to build their careers.
The defense response and the extortion accusation
Tyler Perry’s legal team, led by lawyer Alex Spiro, responded to the accusations scathingly, classifying the action filed by Spiro highlighted in a statement that the demands presented date back more than a decade and are baseless, stating that they will be vigorously challenged and rejected in court. The defense argues that the lawsuit is part of a coordinated campaign to tarnish the filmmaker’s reputation, pointing out that the same lawyer, Jonathan Delshad, also represents another accuser in a similar case, which, they say, highlights a pattern of financially motivated lawsuits. Perry categorically denies all allegations, maintaining his innocence and declaring that the truth will prevail. The defense’s strategy appears focused on discrediting the accuser’s narrative, framing it as an opportunistic quest for money rather than justice, and trusting that the judicial system will expose what they consider to be the true nature of the complaint.
Connection to the previous process of Derek Dixon
This is the second high-profile lawsuit against Tyler Perry over allegations of sexual harassment involving up-and-coming actors. In June 2025, actor Derek Dixon, known for his work on series such as “The Oval”, produced by Perry, began a lawsuit seeking $260 million with very similar allegations.
The case of Dixon, who is also represented by attorney Jonathan Delshad, was recently transferred to federal court in the state of Geórgia, where Perry’s studios are located. The existence of two cases with similar narratives and represented by the same lawyer strengthens the line of argument on both sides: for the accusers, it indicates a possible pattern of behavior; for defense, it suggests a coordinated legal strategy.
Positioning of Lionsgate
Distributor Lionsgate, named as a defendant in Mario Rodriguez’s lawsuit, has not yet issued a public statement about the allegations. The case is still being processed at Corte Superior of Los Angeles, and to date, none of the actions have resulted in conviction, while Perry continues to be active in its film and television productions.
