Tyler Perry seeks dismissal of sexual assault lawsuit, calling it a baseless retaliation after he stopped giving financial aid to actor Mario Rodriguez.
- March 12, 2026
AceShowbiz - Tyler Perry is seeking to have the recent sexual assault and battery lawsuit filed by actor and model Mario Rodriguez dismissed, describing the case as baseless.
In legal documents obtained by TMZ, Tyler Perry strongly denies the allegations that he made unwanted sexual advances toward Mario Rodriguez. He characterizes the claims as lacking any factual or legal merit.
The court papers reveal that Mario Rodriguez allegedly exploited his limited role in one of Tyler Perry's films to repeatedly solicit money from the filmmaker. According to the documents, Mario Rodriguez requested financial help for expenses including his car, apartment, medical care, and unpaid bills.
Tyler Perry asserts that when he stopped providing financial support to Mario Rodriguez, the actor then fabricated the story of a nonconsensual sexual encounter between them in retaliation.
According to Mario Rodriguez, he first met Tyler Perry in 2015 after being approached by a gym trainer who conveyed Tyler Perry's interest in meeting him. Mario Rodriguez later appeared in the film Boo! A Madea Halloween with Tyler Perry. He alleges that after filming concluded, Tyler Perry pursued him aggressively and groped him without consent at one point.
Tyler Perry denies these allegations entirely and is requesting that the court dismiss the lawsuit and deny any financial award to Mario Rodriguez.
