Tyler Perry accused of sexual assault

A collage of filmmaker and actor Tyler Perry and actor Mario Rodriguez/COURTESY

Filmmaker and actor Tyler Perry has been accused of sexual assault and unwanted physical advances.

Actor and model Mario Rodriguez filed the lawsuit in the Los Angeles Superior Court seeking $77 million (Sh9.9 billion) in damages for the claims.

Rodriguez accused the filmmaker of sexual battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress during encounters that allegedly took place between 2015 and 2017.

In the complaint seen by the Star, Rodriguez alleges that Perry “uses his power to abuse and sexually assault people who hope to secure roles in his movies.” 

The suit states that Rodriguez “was one of his victims.”

Rodriguez, who began his modeling career in 2013, says he first encountered Perry in 2015 after a trainer approached him at an Equinox gym in Los Angeles claiming that Perry wanted to meet him. 

According to the filing, Perry called him the same day and said he was writing Madea’s Halloween, telling Rodriguez he would be a good fit for the role of “a very good-looking college student.”

“You know Mario, I’m not a bad person to know and have in your corner,” Perry allegedly told him during that first phone call. 

The complaint says Perry later congratulated Rodriguez on securing the role, telling him, “I told you you’d get it”.

The lawsuit alleges that during Rodriguez’s first solo visit to Perry’s Los Angeles home, the filmmaker asked him personal questions about his childhood and trauma. 

Rodriguez became emotional, according to the complaint, after which Perry allegedly told him, “You have a lot of trauma in you,” and “Believe it or not, we have a lot in common.”

Perry is accused of hugging Rodriguez and telling him, “It’s not your fault",  before allegedly rubbing his shoulders and chest. 

The complaint claims that Perry made “sexual grunting sounds” as he touched him.

Rodriguez says he froze. 

“Rodriguez immediately became confused, and his body tensed up and froze,” the complaint states.

Perry allegedly told him repeatedly to “relax.”

The filing claims that Perry then sat next to him and rubbed his inner thigh, telling him, “It’s ok."

Rodriguez says he excused himself to the restroom and later went home, describing himself as “confused” and “fearful of losing out on an acting career.” 

According to the lawsuit, Perry continued to make sexual comments, allegedly telling him, “Man if you would just come, I would take care of you for the rest of your life and you wouldn’t have to worry about anything,” and “I know you’ll come around.”

The complaint says that after filming for Madea’s Halloween in 2016, Perry allegedly resumed the behavior in 2017 by inviting Rodriguez to his home again to discuss new roles. 

Rodriguez had shared with Perry that he was expecting a child and was financially stressed, the lawsuit notes. 

It alleges that Perry told him, “If you would just give in to me, I would take care of you," and, “You would never have to worry about anything again.”

Perry is also accused of asking graphic sexual questions, including whether Rodriguez had ever had sex with a man or fantasised about being with one.

Rodriguez responded that he had not, the filing says.

The suit further alleges that Perry disclosed his own childhood trauma in order to gain Rodriguez’s trust.

“Perry told Rodriguez that he was himself sexually molested as a kid and that he had a lot of trauma and abandonment issues,” the complaint states.

Lions Gate Films is named as a co-defendant. 

The complaint accuses the company of having “actual knowledge of unlawful conduct and the ability to intervene but failed to act.” 

It alleges the studio benefited from Perry’s conduct and “exercised control over production or working conditions.”

Rodriguez brings the claims under California’s Sexual Abuse and Cover Up Accountability Act (AB-2777), which allows revival of certain previously time-barred sexual assault cases where a cover-up is alleged.

The actor is represented by Jonathan Delshad, the same attorney representing Derek Dixon, another actor who sued Perry for $260 million in June based on allegations of sexual misconduct. 

Dixon's lawsuit was originally filed in California state court but has since been moved to federal court in Georgia. 

Perry has denied all the claims against him in that lawsuit.

In the recent case, Perry's attorney Alex Spiro provided a statement to Entertainment Weekly on Friday slamming the new lawsuit as a "money grab."