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.
Model Mario Rodriuez broke into his first main appearing function in Boo! A Madea Halloween. He claimed Perry personally recruited him via a coach at a Los Angeles Equinox gymnasium who mentioned the tremendous producer wished an introduction. He mentioned he recieved a suggestion to playthe small function of “Frat Guy #10.” According to Page Six, the lawsuit alleges this started a collection 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 residence, 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, ‘Stay 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 instructed Mr. Perry to cease,” however nonetheless needed to “bodily battle to get away.” He mentioned Perry apologized after the rejection and paid him $5,000.
In an alleged April 2019 incident, the swimsuit claims Perry grabbed Rodriguez’s hand and positioned it on his privates. Perry allegedly instructed him to “let it occur” and “If you had been to only be with me, I might deal with you, and also you wouldn’t should ever fear about something.”
According to 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:
“More than ever earlier than, it was clear that Mr. Perry would do no matter he wished, every time he wished, to whomever he wished regardless of what number of occasions he was rejected.”
Rodriguez continued his appearing profession outdoors the Madeaverse on two seasons of The Family Business in 2020 and 2021. Still, 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 similar allegations in a $260M lawsuit against Perry. He accused Perry of stringing him together with guarantees of appearing roles and producing a script Dixon wrote. The lawsuit claimed invites to satisfy at Perry’s residence to debate work become sexual assault and harassment. Attorney 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 Before 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. “This is so exhausting to speak about,” he wrote within the caption. In 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 massive director, a critically 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 desires are coming true.”
“Then it occurs, my boundaries had been crossed. This particular person appears like they obtained energy over you due to the state of affairs and the chance,” he continued. Then he mentioned worry saved him quiet, which put others prone to the identical experiences.
“I stayed quiet for a lot too lengthy. And I simply wish to say I’m actually sorry, man. Because if I might’ve spoken up sooner I might’ve saved anyone that this most likely occurred to after me,” he continued. “I simply wanna express regret for that, whoever which may be. It might’ve stopped with me if I might’ve mentioned one thing. … But I’m talking up now.”
On Dec. 26, Perry’s lawyer Alex Spiro issued an announcement slamming the lawsuit as a “cash seize” after the identical lawyer represented Derek Dixon:
“Having lately failed in one other matter towards Mr. Perry, the exact same lawyer has now made 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 properly, and none of them have failed; they had been simply moved to a distinct courtroom,” as a result of case relocating from California to Georgia.
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