Tyler Perry Seeks Dismissal Of Latest Sexual Assault Lawsuit

Tyler Perry is pushing back against a $77,000,000 lawsuit made by an actor, asking a judge to dismiss what his legal team calls a “money grab.”

According to court documents obtained by TMZ, Perry refutes allegations that he made unwanted advances toward model and actor Mario Rodriguez, and says his claims “have no basis in fact or law and no merit.” Per the documents, Rodriguez used Perry as a personal piggy bank after he offered him a “very minor role” in Boo! A Madea Halloween, which was released in 2016.

The docs reveal that Rodriguez pleaded with Perry for financial assistance not only for his car, but also for his apartment, medical services, and other unpaid expenses. However, Perry claims that once he stopped being Rodriguez’s “golden goose,” the model and actor began making allegations that the pair had a non-consensual relationship. According to Rodriguez’s lawsuit, which was filed in December 2025, he allegedly first connected with the filmmaker in 2015 after a personal trainer approached him and said Perry wanted to meet him. Following his role in Boo! A Madea Halloween, he says Perry began “aggressively pursuing” him and at one point inappropriately groped him.

Derek Dixon Files Sexual Misconduct Lawsuit Against Tyler Perry

This isn’t the first time Tyler Perry has faced allegations of sexual harassment from a former actor.

In June 2025, Derek Dixon, an actor from Perry’s The Oval series, accused him of years of unwanted sexual advances and harassment. In court documents obtained by TMZ, Dixon claims the misconduct started after a chance meeting at an event in 2019, where Perry allegedly singled him out, exchanged numbers, and offered the possibility of a role.

The following year, Dixon says he visited Perry’s Atlanta home, hoping to build a professional connection. That night, after drinking too much, Dixon says he passed out in a guest room and woke up to Perry in the bed beside him, touching his thighs. Although he says he made it clear he wasn’t interested, the behavior allegedly escalated.