Tyler Perry Seeks Court Protection For Private Chats As Actor’s $77m Lawsuit Continues

Hollywood filmmaker Tyler Perry has asked a court to keep private text messages exchanged with his associates confidential as he continues to face a $77 million lawsuit filed by actor Mario Rodriguez over allegations of sexual assault.

According to Bush Radio Academy, court documents indicate that Perry submitted messages exchanged with several associates as part of the legal proceedings but is seeking to prevent the correspondence from becoming public. He reportedly argued that the messages should remain private under a confidentiality agreement previously reached between the parties.

Perry maintained that some of the conversations involved financial matters and that both he and the individuals he communicated with understood the exchanges to be confidential. He also argued that the associates were not directly involved in the allegations at the centre of the lawsuit and that releasing their messages could subject them to unnecessary embarrassment and distress.

Rodriguez had reportedly not filed a response to the confidentiality request at the time of the report. The dispute over the messages forms part of the broader legal battle in which Rodriguez is seeking $77 million in damages over alleged sexual misconduct.

Rodriguez claimed that he met Perry at a gym in 2015, an encounter that eventually led to his appearance in the filmmaker’s comedy film Boo! A Madea Halloween. In his lawsuit, the actor alleged that Perry assaulted him during a visit to the filmmaker’s home in 2018.

According to Rodriguez’s allegations, Perry made a sexual proposition before touching him without his consent. He further claimed that Perry later apologised and gave him $5,000. Rodriguez also alleged that another incident involving unwanted touching occurred during a separate meeting, after which he received an additional $5,000.

Perry and his company have denied the allegations of wrongdoing. The filmmaker has argued that Rodriguez continued communicating with him after the alleged incidents and suggested that the lawsuit was filed after he stopped providing the actor with financial assistance.

The legal dispute has also extended to questions about whether Perry should be required to answer questions concerning his sexuality during a deposition. Perry’s lawyer, Alex Spiro, previously described the lawsuit as a “shakedown,” disputing the claims brought against his client.

The court proceedings remain ongoing, with both sides maintaining opposing positions. The allegations against Perry have not been established as facts in court, and the outcome of the lawsuit remains pending.