Tyler Perry has been hit with another lawsuit from a second accuser, TMZ reports. According to the outlet, Boo! A Madea Halloween actor, Mario Rodriguez, accused Perry of making unwanted sexual advances, including groping, multiple times. On Thursday (Dec.26), Rodriguez filed the suit in a California courtroom listing Perry and Lionsgate Films as the defendants. The model and actor claims he met the director back in 2015, after a gym trainer approached him and offered to connect him with the director.
Later that same day, Rodriguez says he and Perry discussed a script he was working on (which ultimately became Boo! A Madea Halloween), as well as a possible role for him. Despite noting he didn’t have acting experience, he says Perry told him, “You know, Mario, I’m not a bad person to know and have in your corner.” In one interaction, Rodriguez claimed that after being invited into Perry’s home, they were drinking and headed down to his home theater. While there, the actor claims Perry “rubbed his shoulders and chest while moaning sexually.”
lawsuit claims Perry made several unwanted advances toward actor
Not long after, Rodriguez left. On the other hand, in the lawsuit, he claims Perry was never inappropriate during production. However, once filming wrapped, he says, despite Perry initially inviting him over to discuss future roles, things took a turn, and he asked several sexually charged questions. In another startling allegation, the actor claims Perry, once again, invited him over to discuss career opportunities. Shortly after his arrival, Rodriguez claims that Perry offered him fellatio before trying to reach into his underwear and grab his penis. Following the incident, he claims Perry offered him $5,000 and an apology.
There was another occasion where Rodriguez says Perry grabbed his hand and forced him to touch his penis. As he got up to leave, Perry offered him another $5,000. The model and actor are suing for “sexual assault, sexual battery, and emotional distress,” and seeks punitive damages of at least $77,000,000. Perry’s attorney, Alex Shapiro, told TMZ that Rodriguez’s account was nothing more than a “money grab.” He added, “Having recently failed in another matter against Mr. Perry, the very same lawyer has now made yet another demand from more than a decade ago, which will also be a failed money grab.”
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