Tyler Perry faces new sexual assault accusations from a one other actor who filed a $77 million lawsuit, alleging years of undesirable advances and sexual battery.
Mannequin Mario Rodriuez broke into his first main appearing position in Boo! A Madea Halloween. He claimed Perry personally recruited him by a coach at a Los Angeles Equinox health club who mentioned the tremendous producer needed an introduction. He mentioned he recieved a proposal to playthe small position of “Frat Man #10.” In line with Web page Six, the lawsuit alleges this started a sequence guarantees for extra alternatives that lured in Rodriguez for sexual advances.
The grievance filed Thursday states that in Novernber 2018, Perry invited Rodriguez to Mastro’s Steakhouse in Beverly Hills to debate a job in The Oval over dinner. Then Rodriguez mentioned they went to the director’s dwelling, the place Perry “tightly hugged” him, tried to unbuckle his pants, and “reached into Mr. Rodriguez’s underwear.
“Mr. Perry was making sexual moaning noises and saying, ‘Keep right here, keep right here,’ whereas he pressed his physique towards Mr. Rodriguez and continued to seize his penis,” the grievance states.
Rodriguez claimed he “repeatedly advised Mr. Perry to cease,” however nonetheless needed to “bodily wrestle to get away.” He mentioned Perry apologized after the rejection and paid him $5,000.
In an alleged April 2019 incident, the go well with claims Perry grabbed Rodriguez’s hand and positioned it on his privates. Perry allegedly advised him to “let it occur” and “In case you have been to simply be with me, I might care for you, and also you wouldn’t must ever fear about something.”
In line with the paperwork obtained by PEOPLE, the billionaire gave Rodriguez $5,000 when he delined once more “and despatched him away.” Following this alleged incident, the submitting states:
“Greater than ever earlier than, it was clear that Mr. Perry would do no matter he needed, every time he needed, to whomever he needed regardless of what number of occasions he was rejected.”
Rodriguez continued his appearing profession outdoors the Madeaverse on two seasons of The Household Enterprise in 2020 and 2021. Nonetheless, he claims Perry continued to “randomly attain out to” him till 2024.
“When Perry grew to become conscious that Rodriguez was going to file this motion, Perry as soon as once more reached out to Rodriguez by textual content,” the submitting continues, stating Perry mentioned he “was feeling betrayed” after he “did a lot to assist Rodriguez.”
As BOSSIP beforehand reported, The Oval actor Derek Dixon made comparable allegations in a $260M lawsuit towards Perry. He accused Perry of stringing him together with guarantees of appearing roles and producing a script Dixon wrote. The lawsuit claimed invites to fulfill at Perry’s dwelling to debate work was sexual assault and harassment. Legal professional Jonathan J. Delshad represents each Dixon and Rodriguez.
See what Mario Rodriguez talking out in his personal phrases and Tyler Perry’s response after the flip.
Mario Rodriguez Spoke Out About Harassment Weeks Earlier than He Filed The Sexual Assault Lawsuit
Two weeks earlier than the lawsuit went public, Mario Rodroguez took to Instagram to talk out about experiencing harassment. “That is so onerous to speak about,” he wrote within the caption. Within the Dec. 13 clip, Rodriguez opened up about his struggles with feeling “scared and ashamed,” and the way that retains victims silent.
The candid clip talked about his sense of guilt in anticipation of victim-blaming “for even being within the circumstances “for simply being there” on the time of sexual assault and harassment.
“I felt all of that when a really huge director, a severely highly effective particular person that everyone is aware of, invited me over to his home to speak about roles and upcoming issues that he was writing,” which made him suppose “all of my goals are coming true.”
“Then it occurs, my boundaries have been crossed. This particular person appears like they bought energy over you due to the scenario and the chance,” he continued. Then he mentioned concern saved him quiet, which put others susceptible to the identical experiences.
“I stayed quiet for a lot too lengthy. And I simply wish to say I’m actually sorry, man. As a result of if I might’ve spoken up sooner I may’ve saved any individual that this in all probability occurred to after me,” he continued. “I simply wanna ask for forgiveness for that, whoever which may be. It may’ve stopped with me if I might’ve mentioned one thing. … However I’m talking up now.”
On Dec. 26, Perry’s legal professional Alex Spiro issued a press release slamming the lawsuit as a “cash seize” after the identical legal professional represented Derek Dixon:
“Having not too long ago failed in one other matter towards Mr. Perry, the exact same lawyer has now made yet one more demand from greater than a decade in the past which may even be a failed cash seize.”
Delshad refuted this declare to PEOPLE, noting that Dixon’s claims “are alive and effectively, and none of them have failed; they have been simply moved to a unique court docket,” because of the case relocating from California to Georgia.
