“There’s now two of these lawsuits,” said Jonathan Delshad, the attorney representing both accusers, in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter. “There may be more coming.”
Perry has strongly denied all allegations. His attorney, Alex Spiro, dismissed the claims as false and financially motivated, calling them “nothing but a $77 million money grab scam.”
For decades, Tyler Perry has been widely celebrated as a self-made success story. He owns Tyler Perry Studios, a massive 330-acre studio complex in Atlanta built on a former Confederate army base. The studio employs hundreds of people and has often been praised as a symbol of Black ownership and creative control in Hollywood.
At the same time, Perry’s work has occasionally been criticized within the industry. Shows like Atlanta and The Boondocks have included storylines that some viewers interpreted as subtle critiques of powerful figures exploiting talent.
Those fictional references now feel more pointed to some observers.
Allegations From Two Actors
The first lawsuit was filed by Derek Dixon, an actor who appeared on Perry’s series The Oval. Dixon alleges that Perry groped him and describes what he claims was a broader pattern of exploiting young male actors who relied on Perry for career opportunities.
A second lawsuit was later filed by Mario Rodriguez, an actor who appeared in Boo! A Madea Halloween. Rodriguez accuses Perry of multiple assaults over several years, many of which he says occurred at Perry’s Los Angeles home.
Both lawsuits describe an alleged imbalance of power, with Perry portrayed as a gatekeeper whose influence over careers made it difficult for aspiring actors to speak out or walk away.
Text Messages and a Complicated Timeline
After Rodriguez filed his complaint, media outlets published text messages showing that he and Perry remained in contact years after the alleged assaults. In one August message, Rodriguez asked Perry for help during a period of financial hardship, writing that he felt sick most days and lacked health insurance.
In another message sent last year, Rodriguez thanked Perry for everything he had done for him. Perry responded by saying he expected nothing in return and was glad Rodriguez was doing okay.
The Associated Press reported that the messages show the two stayed in touch long after Rodriguez says the alleged assaults ended. The Los Angeles Times also noted that the texts appear to contradict Rodriguez’s claim that he cut off contact in 2019.
Delshad argues the messages do not weaken the accusations. Instead, he says they highlight a troubling power dynamic.
“Why is he holding himself out as available for favors?” Delshad said. “This isn’t normal behavior from a billionaire producer toward an actor who had a very small role in one of his movies.”
Money, Power, and Consent
According to the lawsuit, Rodriguez continued meeting Perry even after alleged assaults took place and received money on some occasions. The complaint states that Perry gave Rodriguez a total of $10,000 over time, without being asked.
Delshad says the issue is not generosity, but context.
“They may say that Tyler Perry is just a philanthropic guy,” he said. “But why did this actor feel comfortable asking him for money years later, and why did Perry respond?”
As of now, Perry has not been charged with a crime, and the allegations remain unproven. Still, with two lawsuits already filed and the possibility of more on the way, the cases are beginning to cast a shadow over one of Hollywood’s most influential figures — and raise broader questions about power, access, and accountability in the entertainment industry.
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