Mario Rodriguez, who appeared in Perry's 2016 movie "Boo! A Madea Halloween," filed a lawsuit on Thursday in Los Angeles County California. The lawsuit alleges that Perry subjected him to repeated unwanted sexual advances that lasted for several years.

In the lawsuit, Rodriguez also claims that Perry committed sexual battery and assault against him at Perry's Los Angeles home. Rodriguez is also suing Lionsgate, which distributed the film. He is seeking at least $77 million in damages. 

According to the lawsuit, Rodriguez was approached by a trainer at an Equinox gym in 2014 who said Perry wanted his phone number to discuss an acting role. After Rodriguez was cast in the movie, he was invited to Perry's home where he says he was touched inappropriately.

He went on to claim that he had been groped on "multiple occasions," including one instance where his clothes were forcibly pulled off.

Rodriguez says learning of Dixon's allegations led him to file his own lawsuit.

In a statement, Perry's lawyer denied the allegations.

Text messages show Tyler Perry and Boo! A Madea Halloween actor Mario Rodriguez remained in contact years after Rodriguez alleges their interactions ended. Rodriguez alleged in the lawsuit filed last week in California that Perry, shown, assaulted him between 2014 and 2019. 

The lawsuit says Rodriguez cut off contact with Perry in 2019, though Perry would periodically reach out afterward. But screenshots of text messages show Rodriguez initiating contact with Perry as recently as Thanksgiving 2024 and again on Aug. 31, 2025, expressing gratitude, friendship and financial distress. 

In one message sent on Thanksgiving, Rodriguez thanked Perry for helping him through difficult periods in his life and wrote that he appreciated him "to the moon," according to the screenshots.