After Boo! A Madea Halloween actor, Mario Rodriguez, filed a lawsuit against veteran entertainer Tyler Perry in California. The Associated Press uncovered text exchanges between Perry and Rodriguez, where the latter can be seen reaching out to the director. The lawsuit mentioned that Rodriguez had cut off contact with the director in 2019.
Rodriguez released a statement about these text exchanges.
Mario Rodriguez says ‘survivors often stay cordial’ after texts with Tyler Perry surface
After texts revealed that Mario Rodriguez had reached out to Tyler Perry several times after the period of alleged assaults, the actor released a statement about this.
Though the original lawsuit claimed that Rodriguez had cut off contact with Perry in 2019, and the director reached out to him several times since, texts reveal that Rodriguez also initiated contact with Perry after the period of alleged assaults.
Rodriguez allegedly reached out to Perry expressing gratitude, friendship, and financial distress in several different texts. The messages were reportedly provided to AP by a source close to the situation.
Rodriguez responded to these texts in a statement shared through his lawyer, Jonathan Delshad.
“When someone has influence over your career, your income, your future, you don’t feel free,” the statement said, “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.”
The statement further 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.”
However, Alex Spiro, one of Tyler Perry’s lawyers has disputed the claim. “I said it before and I will say it again,” he said, “This is nothing but a $77 million money grab scam.”
