Tyler Perry’s sexual assault accuser allegedly begged the filmmaker for money before filing a $77 million lawsuit.
Mario Rodriguez, who starred in “Boo! A Madea Halloween,” reportedly contacted Perry in August to tell her he was struggling financially due to unspecified health issues.
According to a text message obtained by Page Six: “Brother, I’m feeling sick, confused, and a little nauseous. I took a blood test and I think it’s because of my teeth. I know it’s none of your business, but what do you know? I promised you I wouldn’t ask you to do anything. D-if that’s what I think, I don’t think I can do it myself because I barely pay my bills,” Rodriguez allegedly sent Perry on Aug. 31, according to text messages obtained by Page Six.
Rodriguez reportedly admitted that he was “very scared” and said, “I didn’t want to get sepsis and die like[my father].”
He is said to have continued. “I didn’t tell anyone about it because I felt sick almost every day, but my mom and everyone started noticing my broken ass. I don’t have insurance. I’ll never lie, but I think it’s wrong.”
Rodriguez claimed to have “always been healthy,” but recently said she “wakes up feeling confused and dizzy.”
“I can’t go to the doctor because I don’t even have money. I don’t want anything. I just want to be okay, scary brother,” he concluded.
The screenshot sent by Starr’s friend was cropped, so it’s unclear whether Perry responded.
In another text message exchange, Rodriguez allegedly praised Perry, thanked him for the opportunity to appear in the 2016 comedy, and said he loved Perry.
“Please know that I love you and appreciate everything. I’m grateful to the moon,” Rodriguez allegedly sent Perry in November 2024.
“You saved my Mexican ass from a lot of bad places, and I just want to say thank you to you. I can’t give you anything, but I just want to let you know that your son here thanks you more than anything.”
Rodriguez continued, “From the bottom of my heart, there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you. Just enjoy your time. I hope to see you again soon.”
Perry, 56, reportedly replied, “Happy Thanksgiving my friend. Well, you did a great job. I’m glad you’re well. You don’t have to give me anything or pay me anything. I’m just glad you’re well.”
Rodriguez reportedly told Perry that he was “still suffering,” but then quickly stated that he was “surviving.”
“I’m glad you’re my friend. I love you with respect,” he reportedly signed.
“We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: This is nothing short of a $77 million scam,” Perry’s attorney Alex Spiro told Page Six in a statement.
Meanwhile, Rodriguez’s attorney Jonathan Delshad did not immediately respond to our request for comment.
Rodriguez filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court last week against Perry, alleging multiple sexual assaults.
According to the complaint, Rodriguez was approached in 2015 by a trainer at an Equinox gym to meet with Perry to discuss the possibility of playing a “very handsome college student” in the film that later became “Boo! A Madea Halloween.”
After auditioning and accepting the role, Rodriguez was reportedly invited to Perry’s home in Los Angeles to drink and watch the movie at his theater.
Perry allegedly “placed his hand on Mr. Rodiguez’s leg and began rubbing his inner thigh, right next to his penis,” and after Rodriguez refused his advances, Perry allegedly said, “If you come, I’ll take care of you for the rest of your life. You don’t have to worry about anything. You’ll be back.”
After filming for “Boo! A Madea Halloween” finished in 2016, Perry reportedly invited Rodriguez to his home to discuss other acting opportunities. According to the complaint, Perry allegedly grabbed Rodriguez’s “right leg along his penis,” after which Rodriguez walked away.
In 2018, Perry reportedly invited Rodriguez to Mastro’s Steakhouse in Beverly Hills to discuss a role in his series The Oval, which premiered in 2019.
After dinner, the two went to Mr. Perry’s house, where Mr. Perry “hugged him tightly” and told him to “wait a minute” as he tried to unbuckle his pants.
“Mr. Perry reached into Mr. Rodriguez’s underwear and grabbed his penis. Mr. Perry made sexual moans and said, ‘Stay here, stay here,’ while pressing his body against Mr. Rodriguez and continuing to grab his penis,” the complaint alleges.
After Rodriguez managed to be released, Perry allegedly apologized and paid Rodriguez $5,000.
On another occasion in 2019, Perry allegedly grabbed Rodriguez’s hand, put it on his penis and said, “If you just stay with me, I’ll take care of you, you don’t have to worry about anything.”
When Rodriguez declined Perry’s advances, the latter allegedly paid Perry an additional $5,000.
Rodriguez’s lawsuit comes six months after another “Oval” actor, Derek Dixon, filed a $260 million lawsuit against Perry for similar conduct.
“While we recently failed in another matter against Mr. Perry, the very same attorney (Delshad) has been making another demand for more than a decade that will also fail in extorting money,” Spiro told us in response to Rodriguez’s complaint.
In response to Dixon’s accusations, Matthew Boyd, Perry’s former attorney, previously said, “This is an individual who approached Tyler Perry for what we now believe was nothing more than an attempt to defraud. However, Mr. Tyler will not be shaken off, and we are confident that these fabricated harassment claims will fail.”
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call the Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-330-0226.
