HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 03: Tyler Perry attends the Hollywood Walk of Fame Star Ceremony Honoring Sherri Shepherd on November 03, 2025 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jerod Harris/Getty Images)
Mario Rodriguez sent Tyler Perry text messages of gratitude and friendship years after the alleged sexual assault he described in his $77 million lawsuit. The texts show that Perry and the ‘Boo! A Madea Halloween’ actor stayed in contact for years after Rodriguez claimed their interactions ended. This year, months before suing, the actor texted TP about his health and money issues.
Last week, Mario Rodriguez sued Tyler Perry in California, alleging the filmmaker assaulted him during several encounters between 2014 and 2019. The lawsuit says Rodriguez cut off contact with Perry in 2019. It also claims Tyler Perry would periodically reach out afterward.
However, screenshots of text messages obtained by The Associated Press on Sunday night show another POV. Rodriguez initiated contact with Tyler Perry as recently as Thanksgiving 2024 and again on Aug. 31, 2025. In those text messages, the actor reportedly expresses gratitude, friendship, and financial distress.
In one message sent last Thanksgiving, Mario Rodriguez thanked Tyler Perry for helping him through difficult periods in his life. He wrote that he appreciated him “to the moon,” according to the screenshots. In another series of messages dated Aug. 31, Rodriguez described ongoing health problems. He reportedly said he lacked health insurance and told Perry he was scared and struggling financially.
AP obtained these text messages from a source close to the situation who spoke on condition of anonymity. The source, per AP, was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.
Perry’s attorney, Alex Spiro, disputed Mario Rodriguez’s allegations.
“I said it before and I will say it again,” Spiro said in a statement. “This is nothing but a $77 million money grab scam.”
Rodriguez’s lawsuit seeks at least $77 million in damages. It accuses Tyler Perry of sexual assault, sexual battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Perry has denied the allegations. Spiro’s initial response to Mario’s lawsuit pointed out that the same lawyer is involved in both sexual assault lawsuits filed this year.
“Having recently failed in another matter against Mr. Perry, the very same lawyer has now made yet another demand from more than a decade, which will also be a failed money grab,” Spiro told Variety.
Rodriguez’s lawsuit follows a separate case filed in June by actor Derek Dixon. Dixon alleged Perry groped him while he worked on Perry’s television series ‘The Oval’ and ‘Ruthless.’ That lawsuit was originally filed in California state court and later moved to federal court in Georgia, where Perry is based. Perry also has denied Dixon’s allegations.
AP reached out to Rodriguez’s attorney, Jonathan Delshad, seeking comment on the text messages, but did not receive a response. Attorney Delshad also represents Derek Dixon.
Associated Press Entertainment writer Jonathan Landrum Jr. contributed to this report via AP Newsroom.
