Tyler Perry Faces Lawsuit for Sexual Battery: Actor Mario Rodriguez Seeks Justice
Tyler Perry, a prominent entertainment figure, is facing a lawsuit for sexual battery from actor Mario Rodriguez, who appeared in Boo! A Madea Halloween. Rodriguez alleges that Perry made unwanted sexual advances towards him, including incidents where Perry hugged him tightly and grabbed his ****. Perry's lawyer, Alex Spiro, has denied the allegations, calling them a failed money grab by Rodriguez's lawyer, who previously failed in another case against Perry.
This is the second lawsuit filed against Perry, with actor Derek Dixon also accusing him of assault. Rodriguez's lawsuit includes claims of sexual assault, sexual battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress against Perry, as well as a claim against Lionsgate, the distributor of Boo! A Madea Halloween, for allegedly ignoring Perry's misconduct. Rodriguez is seeking at least $77 million in damages.
The lawsuit details how Perry allegedly approached Rodriguez through a gym trainer in 2014, offering him an acting role in the movie. After auditioning and accepting the part, Rodriguez visited Perry's home where the filmmaker allegedly made inappropriate advances towards him. Despite resisting Perry's advances on multiple occasions, Rodriguez claims that Perry persisted and even offered him money after the incidents.
Rodriguez decided to take legal action after learning about Dixon's lawsuit against Perry, believing that Perry was using his power to assault aspiring actors. The lawsuit seeks justice for Rodriguez and aims to put an end to Perry's alleged misconduct towards hopeful actors. The case involving Dixon has been transferred from California state court to federal court in Georgia.