Hollywood Power Play: Actor Sues Tyler Perry for Alleged Misconduct

A Hollywood actor has taken legal action against Tyler Perry, accusing him of sexual assault and misconduct. Mario Rodriguez, who appeared in Perry's 2016 film "Boo! A Madea Halloween, " filed a lawsuit in California, seeking $77 million in damages. This is not the first time Perry has faced such allegations, as another actor, Derek Dixon, sued him earlier this year for similar reasons. Rodriguez claims that Perry first approached him in 2014 through a gym trainer, offering him an acting role. After being cast in the film, Rodriguez was invited to Perry's home, where he alleges that Perry touched him inappropriately. The lawsuit details several incidents between 2016 and 2019, including one where Perry allegedly tried to unbuckle Rodriguez's pants and another where he placed Rodriguez's hand on his genitals. Rodriguez also claims that Perry gave him $5, 000 on multiple occasions following these encounters.The lawsuit accuses Perry of sexual assault, sexual battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. It also names Lionsgate, the studio that distributed the film, for allegedly ignoring Perry's misconduct. Lionsgate has not yet responded to these allegations, while Perry's lawyer has denied them. Rodriguez decided to come forward after learning about Dixon's lawsuit, which alleges that Perry groped him while working on Perry's TV shows "The Oval" and "Ruthless. " Dixon's case has since been moved to a federal court in Georgia, where Perry's studio is based. This lawsuit raises serious questions about power dynamics in Hollywood and the responsibilities of studios in preventing and addressing misconduct. It also highlights the courage it takes for actors to speak out against powerful figures in the industry.