Tyler Perry lands in fresh legal trouble: Mario Rodriguez, 'Boo! A Madea Halloween' actor, sues filmmaker and studio mogul for sexual assault; lawsuit reveals shocking details

Tyler Perry, filmmaker and studio mogul, landed in fresh legal trouble after he was sued for sexual assault by actor Mario Rodriguez. The latest lawsuit marks the second against Perry in recent months accusing him of leveraging his power in Hollywood to make sexual advances.

Rodriguez filed the lawsuit Thursday in California, seeking at least $77 million in damages. He alleged that Perry subjected him to repeated unwanted sexual advances over several years, including sexual battery and assault at Perry’s Los Angeles home, according to news agency AP.

Rodriguez also has sued Lionsgate, which distributed the 2016 film, accusing the studio of turning a blind eye to Perry’s alleged misconduct. Lionsgate did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

Perry denies allegations

Perry’s lawyer, in a statement, denied the allegations. The complaint suggests that ‘The Family Business’ actor was 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,” telling him, “I’m not a bad person to know and have in your corner,” the lawsuit claims, as quoted by AP. After Rodriguez was cast, he was invited to Perry’s home, where Perry allegedly touched him inappropriately while they watched a movie.

Lawsuit mentions several incidents

The lawsuit describes additional alleged incidents in 2016, 2018, and 2019, including one encounter in which Perry allegedly attempted to unbuckle Rodriguez’s pants and another in which Perry placed Rodriguez’s hand on his genitals.

The complaint stated that Perry gave Rodriguez $5,000 on multiple occasions following the encounters. Rodriguez said that he resisted the advances and ultimately decided to file suit after learning of similar allegations made by another actor, Derek Dixon.

Dixon sued Perry in June, alleging that the filmmaker groped him while Dixon worked on Perry’s television series “The Oval” and “Ruthless.” That lawsuit, which was originally filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, has reportedly since been moved to federal court in Georgia, where Perry's studio is based. Rodriguez’s lawsuit includes claims of sexual assault, sexual battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.