The lawsuit was filed by Mario Rodriguez, a model who appeared briefly in Perry’s 2016 film Boo! A Madea Halloween. Rodriguez claims Perry sexually assaulted him and made repeated unwanted advances while suggesting he could help advance his acting career. He is seeking $77 million in damages.
Rodriguez is represented by attorney Jonathan J. Delshad, who also represents Derek Dixon, another actor who filed a similar lawsuit against Perry earlier this year.
Allegations Going Back Nearly a Decade
According to the lawsuit, Rodriguez says he was approached in 2015 by a trainer at a Los Angeles gym who claimed Perry wanted to meet him. After speaking on the phone, Rodriguez says Perry offered him a small role in Boo! A Madea Halloween, where he appeared as “Frat Guy #10.”
Rodriguez alleges that Perry later invited him to his home multiple times under the pretense of discussing future work. During these visits, the lawsuit claims Perry made sexual advances while drinking alcohol.
One alleged incident in November 2018 describes Perry grabbing Rodriguez’s genitals despite Rodriguez repeatedly telling him to stop. The lawsuit says Rodriguez had to physically struggle to get away. Rodriguez claims Perry told him to “let it happen” and suggested that being with him would lead to career opportunities.
The lawsuit also alleges that after two encounters, Perry apologized, gave Rodriguez $5,000, and sent him away. A final alleged incident in April 2019 is described as the most aggressive, with Rodriguez claiming it became clear Perry would ignore rejection.
Continued Contact and Public Statement
Rodriguez claims Perry continued to contact him sporadically through 2024. The lawsuit says that when Perry learned Rodriguez planned to file the case, he allegedly sent messages saying he had done a lot to help Rodriguez and felt “betrayed.”
Earlier this month, Rodriguez posted a video on Instagram describing why he stayed silent for years. Without naming Perry, he referred to a “powerful” and widely known director. He said he felt scared and ashamed and apologized for not speaking out sooner, suggesting others might have been harmed after him.
Perry’s Legal Team Pushes Back
Perry’s attorney Alex Spiro responded on Dec. 26, dismissing the lawsuit as an attempt to extract money over events that allegedly happened more than a decade ago. Spiro said similar claims brought by the same lawyer had already failed.
Delshad disputes that characterization, saying Dixon’s case is still active and was simply moved from California to Georgia, not dismissed.
Dixon, who appeared in Perry’s TV series The Oval, filed a separate $260 million lawsuit in June alleging sexual harassment, assault, and retaliation. Perry has denied those claims as well.
Another of Perry’s lawyers, Matthew Boyd, previously said Dixon was trying to set up a scam and insisted Perry would not be “shaken down.”
As of now, Perry has not personally commented beyond statements from his attorneys. The lawsuits remain unresolved, and all allegations are contested.
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