Filmmaker and entertainer Tyler Perry is now facing a second high-profile sexual assault lawsuit in 2025, this time filed by aspiring actor and model Mario Rodriguez, who appeared in a small role in Perry’s 2016 film Boo! A Madea Halloween. The complaint was filed in California state court on December 25, 2025, and seeks at least $77 million in damages.
Allegations in the lawsuit
According to the complaint, Rodriguez alleges that Perry made repeated unwanted sexual advances and inappropriate contact over several years, often under the pretext of discussing film work and career guidance. The suit includes claims of sexual assault, sexual battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress, and describes multiple incidents some said to have occurred at Perry’s Los Angeles home between 2014 and 2019.
Rodriguez also named Lionsgate, the distributor of Boo! A Madea Halloween, alleging that the company ignored the alleged misconduct. The complaint details specific alleged encounters, including inappropriate touching and attempts to undress him, and claims Perry offered him cash after some incidents.
Responses from Perry’s legal team
Perry’s attorney, Alex Spiro, has denied the new accusations, characterizing them as financially motivated and dismissing them as another “failed money grab,” a line echoing the defense strategy in a earlier, separate lawsuit.
Context — another lawsuit earlier this year
A second aspiring actor Mario Rodriguez has filed a sexual assault lawsuit against Tyler Perry, alleging unwanted advances tied to potential career opportunities and seeking $77 million in damages. Perry’s team denies the claims, framing them as opportunistic, while this follows an earlier, separate lawsuit from another actor earlier this year.
This new case comes on the heels of a larger lawsuit filed in June 2025 by actor Derek Dixon, who claimed sexual harassment, assault and retaliation during his work on Perry’s TV productions, including The Oval and Ruthless. Dixon’s complaint sought $260 million in damages and similarly alleges exploitation of industry influence. Perry has also denied those allegations.
