Two actors have filed separate lawsuits accusing Tyler Perry of sexual misconduct and retaliation. Their original damages demands totaled $337 million—not a verdict or a current combined amount being sought. Mario Rodriguez later withdrew his initial $77 million demand when amending his complaint. Perry’s side has denied the allegations, and the sources available do not establish a final ruling on either case.
Why the lawsuits were described as “$300 million”
The headline figure came from adding the initial damages demands in two separate cases: Derek Dixon sought at least $260 million, and Mario Rodriguez initially sought at least $77 million. The total is $337 million, calculated from figures reported by the Associated Press for the original demands (Dixon; Rodriguez).
That arithmetic does not describe an award, a court finding, or a verified amount currently being pursued. In August 2026, MyNewsLA reported that Rodriguez amended his suit and withdrew the original $77 million damages demand (MyNewsLA). The later change means the original combined figure should be understood as historical, not as the current total.
What each actor alleges
| Case | Filing and initial demand | Allegations reported | Later development |
|---|---|---|---|
| Derek Dixon | Filed in Los Angeles Superior Court in June 2025; sought at least $260 million, according to the Associated Press. | Dixon alleged Perry used his position in the entertainment industry to create a coercive dynamic involving promised career opportunities, escalating sexual harassment and assault, and professional retaliation tied to Dixon’s work on The Oval. The complaint’s account is an allegation, not a finding. AP quoted the complaint’s description of an “escalating” course of conduct (AP report; AP quotation). | The sources cited here do not establish a final merits ruling or a complete current procedural status. |
| Mario Rodriguez | Filed in California in December 2025 against Perry and Lionsgate; initially sought at least $77 million, according to the Associated Press. | Rodriguez alleged unwanted sexual advances and assault over several years, including incidents he said occurred at Perry’s Los Angeles home. Perry’s lawyer denied the allegations (AP report). | The case was removed to federal court in February 2026. Rodriguez later amended his suit and withdrew the initial $77 million demand, according to MyNewsLA. |
What Perry and his legal team have said
Perry’s lawyer denied Rodriguez’s allegations, as reported by AP. In July 2026, TMZ reported that a Perry filing disputed Rodriguez’s account of a deposition dispute and sought $7,300 in sanctions (TMZ). In August, MyNewsLA reported that Perry’s lawyers called Rodriguez’s revised allegations false (MyNewsLA).
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Those are denials and arguments attributed to Perry’s side, not judicial findings. Likewise, the complaints state the plaintiffs’ allegations; they do not establish that the alleged events occurred.
Messages reported in the Rodriguez case
The Associated Press reported that messages showed Rodriguez contacting Perry after the period in which Rodriguez said their interactions had ended. AP described messages expressing gratitude and financial distress. The reported messages may be interpreted differently by the parties; on their own, they do not resolve the allegations (AP report).
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What the court record does—and does not—establish
The Rodriguez case was removed to federal court in February 2026. A federal court order dated March 10 raised jurisdiction questions; the docket listing records a remand transmission in April (docket listing; March 10 order). These are procedural developments, not rulings on whether the accusations are true.
The docket listing cautions that newer entries may exist. The available sources do not establish a final merits decision or the complete procedural status of both cases as of October 8, 2026. No source cited here shows a judge determining the truth or falsity of the accusations.
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