Newly surfaced textual content messages are casting recent consideration on the connection between Tyler Perry and actor Mario Rodriguez, who has accused the filmmaker of sexual assault in a lawsuit filed final week.
Rodriguez, who appeared in “Boo! A Madea Halloween,” claims within the lawsuit that Perry assaulted him throughout encounters between 2014 and 2019. He alleges that he lower off contact in 2019, though Perry continued reaching out afterward. Nonetheless, screenshots of messages now present Rodriguez initiating contact years later, together with messages despatched on Thanksgiving 2024 and once more on Aug. 31, 2025.
In one of many Thanksgiving messages, Rodriguez thanked Perry for supporting him by means of troublesome moments and stated he appreciated him “to the moon.” One other set of messages dated Aug. 31 exhibits Rodriguez discussing ongoing well being issues, saying he lacked medical health insurance and was frightened and struggling financially.
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The messages had been reviewed by The Related Press after being supplied by an individual conversant in the matter who spoke on situation of anonymity as a result of they weren’t approved to debate the scenario publicly.
Perry’s legal professional, Alex Spiro, firmly refuted the allegations.
“I stated it earlier than and I’ll say it once more,” Spiro stated in a press release. “That is nothing however a $77 million cash seize rip-off.”
Rodriguez is in search of at the least $77 million in damages, accusing Perry of sexual assault, sexual battery, and intentional infliction of emotional misery. Perry has denied all allegations.
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The Related Press usually doesn’t establish individuals who say they’ve been sexually abused except they arrive ahead publicly, which Rodriguez has executed.
The lawsuit follows a separate case filed in June by actor Derek Dixon, who alleged Perry groped him whereas engaged on the tv collection “The Oval” and “Ruthless.” The case was initially filed in a California state courtroom and later transferred to federal courtroom in Georgia, the place Perry is predicated. Perry has additionally denied Dixon’s claims.
AP indicated that it reached out to Rodriguez’s legal professional, Jonathan Delshad, for remark concerning the textual content messages however didn’t obtain a response. Delshad additionally represents Dixon.
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