Tyler Perry is fighting to clear his name after a $77 million sexual assault lawsuit was filed against him, calling the allegations “baseless” and a clear attempt to extort money.
The suit was lodged by Mario Rodriguez, who had a minor role in Perry’s 2016 film Boo! A Madea Halloween. Rodriguez claims Perry made unwanted sexual advances on him multiple times between 2014 and 2019.
But Perry’s legal team, led by high-profile attorney Alex Spiro, is strongly denying the claims. In court documents filed on February 27 in Los Angeles County Superior Court, they argued that the lawsuit “has no basis in fact or law and no merit.”
The filing paints a different picture of the relationship between Perry and Rodriguez. According to the documents, Rodriguez “repeatedly turned to Perry as his personal piggy bank,” seeking help with rent, bills, car payments, and even medical expenses. When Perry stopped providing money, his lawyers claim Rodriguez “resorted to fabricating allegations of a nonconsensual relationship to ignite a media firestorm” and pressure Perry for a payout.
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This case follows another high-profile legal battle for Perry. In June 2025, actor Derek Dixon filed a separate $260 million lawsuit accusing the filmmaker of sexual harassment.
Prompt News reports while Perry has stayed quiet publicly, his legal team is making it clear: the filmmaker intends to vigorously defend himself and his reputation.
