The second lawsuit is a civil case filed by actor Mario Rodriguez, who appeared in Boo! A Madea Halloween. Rodriguez alleges that Tyler Perry sexually assaulted him over several years and that Lionsgate ignored misconduct. Perry and Lionsgate dispute liability. The allegations have not been established as facts in court.
Who filed the second lawsuit?
Rodriguez filed suit in California in December 2025 against Perry and Lionsgate, the distributor of Boo! A Madea Halloween. The Associated Press reported that the complaint sought at least $77 million in damages when it was filed. That was the original reported demand, not a confirmed current amount: a later report said defense lawyers claimed Rodriguez had withdrawn it after amending the complaint.
Rodriguez’s complaint includes claims of sexual assault, sexual battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress. It also alleges that Lionsgate turned a blind eye to Perry’s conduct. Those are claims by Rodriguez, not findings against either defendant. The Associated Press reported that Perry’s lawyer denied the allegations. Associated Press coverage
What does Rodriguez allege?
According to reporting by the Associated Press and the Los Angeles Times, Rodriguez’s account begins after he was approached about an acting role in 2014 and later appeared in the 2016 film Boo! A Madea Halloween. The complaint describes alleged unwanted touching and further incidents in 2016, 2018 and 2019, including incidents at Perry’s Los Angeles home. The specific descriptions come from the complaint as summarized by the outlets; they have not been independently established as events.
#1 Best Overall
The complaint alleges repeated unwanted advances and assaults over several years. Perry’s denial and the allegations remain disputed in the civil proceeding; no criminal charge in the Rodriguez case is reported in the coverage cited here. Los Angeles Times reporting
What do Perry and Lionsgate say?
Perry’s lawyer denied the allegations in the initial Associated Press report. In a later account of court filings, MyNewsLA reported that Perry and Lionsgate’s lawyers argued Rodriguez had consented to any contact and characterized the suit as a money grab. These are defense arguments, not a court’s conclusion about what happened.
Rank #2
![Tyler Perry's Madea - 6 Film Collection (Family Funeral/Boo!/Boo! 2/Christmas/Family Reunion/Witness Protection) [DVD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41p1BQMs19L._SL160_.jpg)
- DVD Collection – Region Free playback (compatible with all DVD players worldwide)
- Official Australian manufactured release
- 6 Film Collection: A Madea Family Funeral, Boo! A Madea Halloween, Boo! 2: A Madea Halloween, A Madea Christmas, Madea's Family Reunion, Madea's Witness Protection
- Standard definition widescreen presentation for all films
- English language audio with widescreen presentation
MyNewsLA also reported that Lionsgate sought dismissal of Rodriguez’s negligence and negligent-retention claims. The complaint had been amended for a second time on July 8, 2026, according to that report. The latest located procedural account, dated August 13, 2026, said a hearing on Lionsgate’s dismissal motion was scheduled for October 20, 2026. That date was still in the future as of October 8, 2026; no outcome is established here. MyNewsLA’s procedural report
What is the dispute over the text messages?
The Los Angeles Times reported that screenshots showed Rodriguez initiating conversations with Perry as recently as 2025, although the complaint’s account says contact ended in 2019. Perry’s lawyer, Alex Spiro, said in a statement reported by the Times: “This is nothing but a 77 million dollar money grab scam.”
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsRodriguez said the messages should be understood in context, arguing that politeness, gratitude or seeking help does not disprove abuse. In a statement reported by the Times, he said: “Survivors often stay cordial. They often ask for help when they feel desperate.” He added: “That does not mean abuse didn’t happen. Those text messages were sent to Perry at a time when I was especially vulnerable as can be seen from the context.” The messages and the competing explanations are relevant reported context, but neither settles the allegations.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How is this different from Derek Dixon’s lawsuit?
Derek Dixon’s case came first, in June 2025. Dixon appeared in Perry’s television productions The Oval and Ruthless; the Associated Press reported that his suit alleged harassment, assault and professional retaliation and sought at least $260 million. Perry’s lawyer called Dixon’s allegations false. Rodriguez’s case is separate: it involves a different plaintiff, a film role, different allegations and its own court proceedings.
| Case | Plaintiff and work connection | Filing and reported demand | Reported allegations and response |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rodriguez | Mario Rodriguez; Boo! A Madea Halloween | Filed in California in December 2025; at least $77 million was reported as the original demand. A later report said defense lawyers claimed he withdrew that demand after amendments. | Complaint alleges sexual assault, sexual battery and emotional distress; Perry’s lawyer denied the allegations, and both defendants’ lawyers later argued consent, according to reporting. No court finding is established here. |
| Dixon | Derek Dixon; The Oval and Ruthless | Filed in June 2025; at least $260 million was reported as the demand. | AP reported allegations of harassment, assault and professional retaliation; Perry’s lawyer called the allegations false. |
The amounts are demands reported in litigation, not awards or proof of damages. The filings and responses belong to separate cases and should not be treated as one lawsuit. Associated Press report on Dixon’s case
Quick Recap
Best Value
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
