According to screenshots obtained by Page Six, actor Mario Rodriguez contacted Perry in August, saying he was feeling sick, confused, and dizzy, and that he couldn’t afford to see a doctor because he had no insurance. In the messages, Rodriguez wrote that he was scared and barely able to pay his bills, but said he had promised himself he would never ask Perry for anything.
In the texts, Rodriguez expressed fear about his health, mentioning concerns about infection and saying he was worried after seeing his family notice how much he was struggling. It is unclear whether Perry replied to that August message, as the screenshot was cut off.
In a separate exchange from November 2024, Rodriguez allegedly sent Perry warm messages thanking him for giving him an acting opportunity in the 2016 film Boo! A Madea Halloween. He reportedly told Perry he loved him, appreciated him deeply, and credited him with helping him through difficult times.
Perry allegedly responded politely, wishing Rodriguez a happy Thanksgiving and telling him he didn’t owe him anything. Rodriguez then replied that he was “still going through it” but described himself as a survivor and said he was glad to call Perry a friend.
Perry’s attorney, Alex Spiro, strongly denied the allegations, calling the lawsuit “nothing but a $77 million money grab scam.”
Rodriguez filed his lawsuit last week in Los Angeles Superior Court. In it, he accuses Perry of multiple instances of sexual assault dating back to 2015. According to the complaint, Rodriguez claims he was first introduced to Perry through a trainer at an Equinox gym and later cast in “Boo! A Madea Halloween.”
The lawsuit alleges that Perry made unwanted sexual advances during private meetings at his home in Los Angeles, including touching Rodriguez’s inner thigh and genitals, and offering to “take care of” him for life if he agreed to a sexual relationship. Rodriguez claims he rejected the advances and left.
The suit also includes allegations from later meetings, including dinners and discussions about roles on Perry’s TV series The Oval, which premiered in 2019. Rodriguez claims Perry again made sexual advances during these encounters. He alleges that on two occasions after rejecting Perry, he was paid $5,000.
Perry’s legal team says the claims are false and part of a pattern. Rodriguez’s lawsuit comes just six months after another actor filed a separate, high-dollar lawsuit against Perry alleging similar conduct. Perry’s attorneys say those claims also lack merit and insist the filmmaker will not be pressured into a settlement.
The case is ongoing, and no court ruling has yet been made on Rodriguez’s allegations.
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