Mario Rodriguez’s $77 million lawsuit has suddenly dragged Tyler Perry into one of the most serious scandals of his career, mixing explosive sexual assault allegations with claims that the Hollywood mogul abused his power over a young actor chasing a break.
Mario Rodriguez: The Actor Taking On Tyler Perry
Mario Rodriguez is a model and actor who landed a small role as “Frat Guy #10” in Tyler Perry’s 2016 horror‑comedy Boo! A Madea Halloween, a gig that he says came after Perry first showed interest in him at an Equinox gym in Los Angeles around 2014. According to the complaint, a trainer at the gym told Rodriguez that Perry wanted his number to discuss a possible role, and the connection eventually led to an audition and casting in the film.
In his lawsuit, Mario Rodriguez claims that Perry then used that professional relationship as leverage, promising help with his acting career while allegedly pushing for sexual favors over several years. The suit names both Tyler Perry and Lionsgate, the studio that distributed Boo! A Madea Halloween, accusing the company of ignoring warning signs and “turning a blind eye” to Perry’s alleged behavior.
The Lawsuit: What Rodriguez Alleges Happened
The lawsuit by Mario Rodriguez lays out a timeline of alleged incidents between roughly 2015 and 2019, most of them said to have taken place at Tyler Perry’s Los Angeles home. In one early visit to Perry’s home screening room, Rodriguez alleges that Perry touched him inappropriately while they were watching a movie, setting a pattern Rodriguez says continued even after he was cast in Boo! A Madea Halloween.
Rodriguez claims that in later encounters, including in 2016 and 2018, Perry allegedly “tightly hugged” him, grabbed his genitals, tried to unbuckle his pants, and attempted to force Rodriguez to touch Perry’s genitals. According to the complaint, Rodriguez says he repeatedly told Perry to stop, physically pulled away, and was told lines like “if you were to just be with me, I would take care of you, and you wouldn’t have to ever worry about anything.”
Mario Rodriguez vs Tyler Perry: The $77 Million Claim
In the lawsuit, Mario Rodriguez accuses Tyler Perry of sexual assault, sexual battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress, and is seeking at least $77 million in damages. The filing also alleges that after some of the encounters, Perry apologized and handed Rodriguez about $5,000, which Rodriguez says happened on multiple occasions following the alleged incidents.
Beyond the money figure, the Mario Rodriguez lawsuit argues that Perry used his power and influence as a studio boss and filmmaker to pressure a less‑established actor who believed cooperating could help his career. Rodriguez says he ultimately decided to sue after seeing another actor, Derek Dixon, come forward earlier this year with a separate lawsuit accusing Perry of sexual harassment and assault on the sets of his TV shows The Oval and Ruthless.
Tyler Perry’s Response So Far
Mario Rodriguez’s case is the second sexual assault‑related lawsuit against Tyler Perry in a matter of months, which is why headlines keep stressing that this is “another” or “fresh” legal battle for the media mogul. The suit has already been filed in California state court and, according to some reports, has ties to proceedings that could involve federal court jurisdiction and Lionsgate’s role as a corporate defendant.
Tyler Perry, through his lawyer Alex Spiro, has flatly denied Mario Rodriguez’s allegations and painted the lawsuit as a cash grab. Spiro has argued that the same attorney already “failed in another matter against Mr. Perry” and called the new filing “another demand from more than a decade ago which will also be a failed money grab,” signaling that Perry intends to fight Rodriguez’s claims aggressively in court.
What Happens Next in the Case?
Right now, the Mario Rodriguez lawsuit sits at the early stage of the legal process: a complaint has been filed, damages have been specified, and both Tyler Perry and Lionsgate have been put on notice to respond through the courts. There has been no trial, no judgment, and no criminal charges linked to these specific allegations, so all of Rodriguez’s claims remain allegations that Perry strongly disputes.
For Mario Rodriguez, this case not only spotlights his brief appearance in a Madea movie but also places him at the center of a much larger conversation about power, consent, and the way aspiring actors navigate Hollywood gatekeepers. How the lawsuit unfolds—whether it heads toward trial, gets dismissed, or ends in an undisclosed settlement—will likely shape both Rodriguez’s public image and Tyler Perry’s legacy in the years ahead.
