Media mogul Tyler Perry sued by actor over sexual harassment charges
Tyler Perry, the media mogul and creator of the Madea movie series, has been sued by actor Derek Dixon for sexual harassment.
Tyler Perry is facing new sexual assault allegations after the movie mogul is accused of making unwanted sexual advances in a lawsuit filed on Christmas Day in California.
The lawsuit was filed on Dec. 25 on behalf of Mario Rodriguez, and alleges the filmmaker assaulted him and promised to star in the film. Rodriguez, a model who had a bit role in Perry’s “Boo! A Madea Halloween,” is seeking $77 million in damages.
Rodriguez’s attorney is Jonathan J. Delshad, the same attorney who represented another actor, Derek Dixon, who accused Perry of sexual misconduct earlier this year.
“Mr. Rodriguez looks forward to the day he will hold Mr. Perry accountable for his actions in court. He hopes a jury will award him enough money to make Mr. Perry regret his actions,” Delshad said in a statement to USA TODAY. “Unfortunately, statements like those made by Mr. Perry’s attorneys only enable Mr. Perry to continue victimizing people like Mr. Rodriguez. My client looks forward to a jury determining what happened.”
In a statement to USA TODAY, Mr. Perry’s attorney, Alex Spiro, wrote, “Although we recently failed in another matter against Mr. Perry, the very same attorney has been making another demand for more than a decade that will also fail in his attempt to extort money.” (Mr. Dixon’s lawsuit was originally filed in California state court, but was moved to Georgia federal court.)
In her lawsuit, Rodriguez alleges that in 2015, at a gym in Los Angeles, her trainer asked her to meet Perry. After a phone conversation, Perry offered Rodriguez the role of “Frat Guy No. 10” on “Boo! A Madea Halloween,” according to the complaint. Additionally, Perry claims that over the next few years, he invited Rodriguez to dinner and his home to discuss future projects, only to have him make unwanted advances while intoxicated.
“Perry uses his power to abuse and sexually assault those who wish to appear in his films,” Rodriguez’s attorney wrote. “Perry’s ‘type’ is people who have been victims of childhood trauma in the past.”
Rodriguez claims she resisted Perry’s physical advances, but the lawsuit alleges the filmmaker told her, “If you give in to me, I’ll take care of you… You won’t have to worry about anything anymore.”
The actor claims Perry grabbed his genitals in November 2018 and struggled to break free. Rodriguez claimed the filmmaker later apologized and offered her $5,000.
Rodriguez’s lawsuit comes six months after Dixon filed a claim against the Hollywood giant. The lawsuit, filed June 13, alleges that Perry, who starred in Perry’s “The Oval”, committed quid pro quo sexual harassment, workplace harassment, sexual assault and battery, retaliation and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
Mr Dixon is seeking $260 million for his alleged targeting of Mr Perry, who said he was seeking a “coercive and sexually exploitative power relationship with Mr Dixon”.
Perry’s attorney denied the allegations in a statement shared with USA TODAY at the time.
“This is someone who approached Tyler Perry for what now appears to be nothing more than an attempt to defraud him,” attorney Matthew Boyd said. “But Mr. Tyler will not be swayed, and we are confident that the fabricated claims of harassment will fail.”
Contributor: Kimi Robinson
