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Text messages amusement that Tyler Perry and "Boo! A Madea Halloween" histrion Mario Rodriguez, who precocious filed a lawsuit accusing the filmmaker of intersexual assault, remained successful interaction years aft Rodriguez alleges their interactions ended.
Rodriguez alleged successful the suit filed past week successful California that Perry sexually assaulted him during encounters that occurred betwixt 2014 and 2019. The suit says Rodriguez chopped disconnected interaction with Perry successful 2019, though Perry would periodically scope retired afterward. But screenshots of substance messages obtained by The Associated Press connected Sunday nighttime amusement Rodriguez making contact with Perry arsenic precocious arsenic Thanksgiving 2024 and again connected Aug. 31, 2025, expressing gratitude, relationship and fiscal distress.
Rodriguez's suit seeks astatine slightest $77 cardinal successful damages and accuses Perry of intersexual assault, intersexual artillery and intentional infliction of affectional distress. Rodriguez besides sued Lionsgate, which distributed "Boo! A Madea Halloween" successful 2016, accusing the workplace of overlooking Perry's alleged assault.
Perry denied the allegations made successful Rodriguez's suit.
"Having precocious failed successful different substance against Mr. Perry, the precise aforesaid lawyer has present made yet different request from much than a decennary agone which volition besides beryllium a failed wealth grab," Alex Spiro, an lawyer for Perry, said successful a connection Friday provided to CBS News.
Spiro besides told the AP: "I said it earlier and I volition accidental it again. This is thing but a $77 cardinal wealth drawback scam."
Lionsgate did not instantly respond to a petition for comment.
In 1 substance connection betwixt Rodriguez and Perry that was sent connected Thanksgiving 2024, Rodriguez thanked Perry for helping him done hard periods successful his beingness and wrote that helium appreciated him "to the moon," according to the screenshots. In different bid of messages dated Aug. 31 this year, Rodriguez described ongoing wellness problems, said helium lacked wellness security and told Perry helium was frightened and struggling financially.
The messages were provided to the AP by a root adjacent to the concern who spoke connected information of anonymity due to the fact that they were not authorized to sermon the substance publicly.
The Associated Press does not typically sanction radical who accidental they person been sexually abused unless they travel guardant publically arsenic Rodriguez has.
The suit follows a abstracted case filed successful June by histrion Derek Dixon, who alleged Perry groped him portion Dixon worked connected Perry's tv bid "The Oval" and "Ruthless." That suit was primitively filed successful California authorities tribunal and aboriginal moved to national tribunal successful Georgia, wherever Perry is based. Perry besides has denied Dixon's allegations.
AP reached retired to Rodriguez's attorney, Jonathan Delshad, seeking remark connected the substance messages, but did not person a response. Delshad besides represents Dixon.
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