Mario Rodriguez Tyler Perry Lawsuit Calls Credibility Into Question After Text Messages Surface
The lawsuit involving Tyler Perry took a turn — and this latest development has a lot of people questioning the optics more than ever.
Actor Mario Rodriguez, who appeared in Boo! A Madea Halloween, has filed a $77 million civil lawsuit accusing Perry of sexual assault during alleged encounters he says occurred between 2014 and 2019. In the complaint, Rodriguez claims he cut off contact years ago.
But text messages obtained by The Associated Press text are muddying that narrative.
Screenshots now circulating publicly reportedly show Rodriguez initiating contact with Perry long after 2019 — including messages sent around Thanksgiving 2024 and again in 2025. The tone of the messages, according to reports, appears friendly and appreciative, with Rodriguez also referencing financial hardship.
Tyler Perry Text Messages
That texts has triggered heavy side-eye online.
Observers have been quick to point out the contrast: continued warm communication, expressions of gratitude, and money struggles — followed by a lawsuit seeking tens of millions of dollars.
Rodriguez, released a statement regarding the texts, saying that staying cordial with someone who holds power or influence isn’t unusual and that people sometimes reach out for help during vulnerable moments.
“When someone has influence over your career, your income, your future, you don’t feel free,” said the statement Rodriguez released through his lawyer, Jonathan Delshad. “Survivors often stay cordial. They often ask for help when they feel desperate. 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.”
He continued, “Continued financial support and access are not inconsistent with abuse—they are often part of the power dynamics that follow it. In many situations involving exploitation, money can function as a way to manage guilt, avoid conflict, or maintain silence.”
While that explanation has been noted, it hasn’t stopped public speculation about whether the communications weaken his position — or strengthen Perry’s defense.
Perry has flatly denied the allegations. His attorney, Alex Spiro, has characterized the lawsuit as financially motivated.
“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.”
At this point, the biggest question lingering isn’t just about what allegedly happened years ago — but why the lawsuit came now, after those messages, and at that dollar amount.
