Tyler Perry, the acclaimed filmmaker and entertainment mogul, is fighting back against a $77 million sexual assault lawsuit, dismissing the claims as “frivolous” and an attempt to extort money.
The lawsuit was filed on December 25 by Mario Rodriguez, who appeared in a minor role in Perry’s 2016 film Boo! A Madea Halloween. Rodriguez alleged that Perry subjected him to unwanted sexual advances on multiple occasions between 2014 and 2019.
Perry’s legal team, including attorney Alex Spiro, filed a formal response on February 27 in Los Angeles County Superior Court, categorically denying the allegations.
According to court documents obtained by TMZ, Perry’s lawyers argued that the claims “have no basis in fact or law and no merit.” They further claimed that after Rodriguez was cast in a small role, he “repeatedly turned to Perry as his personal piggy bank,” requesting financial help for his apartment, car, unpaid bills, and medical expenses.
The filing added that when Perry stopped providing the funds, Rodriguez allegedly “resorted to fabricating allegations of a nonconsensual relationship to ignite a media firestorm” and pressure Perry into a financial settlement.
This legal action comes months after another actor, Derek Dixon, filed a separate $260 million lawsuit against Perry in June 2025, accusing him of sexual harassment.
Perry, 56, has not publicly commented on the case, but his attorneys’ filing signals a firm rejection of the allegations and a commitment to defending the filmmaker’s reputation in court.
