Billionaire filmmaker and entertainment mogul, Tyler Perry, is aggressively fighting back against a $77 million sexual assault lawsuit, with his legal defense team characterizing the allegations as entirely “frivolous” and a blatant extortion attempt.
The lawsuit was initially filed on December 25 by Mario Rodriguez, an actor who had a minor role alongside Perry in the 2016 comedy “Boo! A Madea Halloween.” Rodriguez’s suit accuses the prominent filmmaker of sexual battery and assault, claiming he was subjected to unwanted sexual advances on multiple occasions between 2014 and 2019.
In response, Perry’s attorneys, led by high-profile lawyer Alex Spiro, filed formal court documents on February 27 in the Los Angeles County Superior Court to vehemently deny all claims made by Rodriguez.
According to the court filings obtained by TMZ, Perry’s legal team stated that the allegations outlined by the actor “have no basis in fact or law and no merit.”
The defense argued that following his casting in a small role, Rodriguez viewed Perry as a financial resource, stating that he “repeatedly turned to Perry as his personal piggy bank.” The filings claim that Rodriguez frequently requested financial assistance to cover personal expenses, including his apartment, car payments, unpaid bills, and medical services.
Perry’s legal representatives allege that when the 56-year-old filmmaker eventually stopped providing financial support, Rodriguez retaliated by fabricating the story of a nonconsensual relationship. They argue the lawsuit is a deliberate attempt to “ignite a media firestorm” to force a lucrative financial settlement.
This legal battle marks the second major sexual misconduct suit brought against Perry recently. In June 2025, another actor, Derek Dixon, filed a $260 million lawsuit against the entertainment mogul over allegations of sexual harassment.
