Tyler Perry’s sexual assault accuser allegedly begged the filmmaker for money before filing a $77 million lawsuit.
Mario Rodriguez, who had an acting role in “Boo! A Madea Halloween,” allegedly contacted Perry in August to say he was struggling financially amid unspecified health issues.
“brother haven’t been feeling ok confused and lil nauseous I got blood work thinks its my teeth I know it’s none of your business idk what do I know I promised you I would never ask you for anything, but if it is what I think it is, I don’t think I could do it on my own because I barely pay my bills,” Rodriguez allegedly sent Perry on Aug. 31, according to text messages obtained by Page Six.
Rodriguez allegedly admitted he was “scared af,” noting he didn’t want to “get sepsis like [his] dad and pass away.”
He allegedly continued, “feel sick most days never told anybody this but my mom and everybody is starting to notice my broke ass. Don’t have insurance. i’d never lie to you, but I think that’s what wrong.”
Rodriguez allegedly claimed he’d “always been healthy” but said he’d been “waking up confused and dizzy” lately.
“I just can’t go to the doctor because l can’t even afford it. I don’t want anything. I just wanna be OK. scared brother,” he concluded.
It’s unclear if Perry responded, as the screenshot — which was sent to us by a friend of the star — was cut off.
In another text exchange, Rodriguez allegedly praised Perry, thanked him for the opportunity of appearing in his 2016 comedy and said he loved him.
“Just know that I love you and I thank you for everything. I appreciate you to the moon,” Rodriguez allegedly sent Perry in November 2024.
“you got my Mexican ass out of a lot of bad places and I just wanna tell you thank you. I can’t buy you anything, but I just wanna tell you that your boy right here appreciates you more than anything.”
Rodriguez allegedly went on, “straight from my heart bro nothing I wouldn’t do for you man anyways enjoy your time and I hope I see you again soon.”
Perry, 56, allegedly replied, “Happy Thanksgiving my friend. Yeap you’ve been through it. I’m glad you’re doing well. You don’t have to give me a thing or pay me a thing. I’m just glad you’re good.”
Rodriguez allegedly responded by letting Perry know he’s “still going through it” but quickly noted that he’s “a survivor.”
“I’m glad that you’re my friend and I love you bro respectfully,” he allegedly signed off.
Perry’s attorney, Alex Spiro, told Page Six in a statement, “I said it before, and I will say it again: This is nothing but a $77 million money grab scam.”
Meanwhile, Rodriguez’s attorney, Jonathan Delshad, did not immediately respond to our request for comment.
Rodriguez filed his lawsuit against Perry last week in Los Angeles Superior Court, accusing him of multiple instances of sexual assault.
According to the suit, Rodriguez was approached by a trainer at an Equinox gym in 2015 about meeting with Perry to discuss a possible acting role as a “very good-looking college student” in a movie that later became “Boo! A Madea Halloween.”
After auditioning for and accepting the part, Rodriguez was allegedly invited to Perry’s LA home to have drinks and watch a movie in his theater.
Perry allegedly “put his hands on Mr. Rodiguez’s legs and began rubbing his inner thigh right next to his penis,” Rodriguez alleged, claiming that after he rejected the advances, Perry said to him, “Man, if you would just come, I would take care of your for the rest of your life, and you wouldn’t have to worry about anything. I know you’ll come around.”
Once filming for “Boo! A Madea Halloween” wrapped in 2016, Perry allegedly invited Rodriguez to his home to discuss other acting opportunities. According to the suit, Perry allegedly grabbed Rodriguez’s “leg right along his penis,” after which Rodriguez left.
In 2018, Perry allegedly invited Rodriguez to Mastro’s Steakhouse in Beverly Hills to discuss a role in his series “The Oval,” which premiered in 2019.
After dinner, they allegedly went to Perry’s home, where he “tightly hugged” Rodriguez and told him to “hold on” as he tried to unbuckle the actor’s pants.
“Mr. Perry reached into Mr. Rodriguez’s underwear and grabbed his penis. Mr. Perry was making sexual moaning noises and saying, ‘Stay here, stay here,’ while he pressed his body against Mr. Rodriguez and continued to grab his penis,” the suit alleged.
After Rodriguez managed to free himself, Perry allegedly apologized and paid him $5,000.
On another occasion in 2019, Perry allegedly grabbed Rodriguez’s hand and placed it on his penis, saying, “If you were to just be with me, I would take care of you, and you wouldn’t have to ever worry about anything.”
When Rodriguez declined Perry’s advances, the latter allegedly paid the former another $5,000.
Rodriguez’s suit comes six months after another actor, Derek Dixon — who starred in “The Oval” — filed a $260 million lawsuit against Perry, alleging similar behavior.
“Having recently failed in another matter against Mr. Perry, the very same lawyer [Delshad] has now made yet another demand from more than a decade ago, which will also be a failed money grab,” Spiro told us in response to Rodriguez’s filing.
In response to Dixon’s filing, Perry’s former attorney, Matthew Boyd, previously told us, “This is an individual who got close to Tyler Perry for what now appears to be nothing more than setting up a scam. But Tyler will not be shaken down, and we are confident these fabricated claims of harassment will fail.”
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-330-0226.
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