Perry Asks Court to Seal Texts in $77M Rodriguez Suit
The film producer argues that messages exchanged with business associates contain private financial data and would cause embarrassment if released.
By Samira Khalil ·
Los Angeles Superior Court will decide whether to keep text messages between Tyler Perry and his business associates out of the public record. The producer filed a motion this week to seal the documents as the civil litigation filed by actor Mario Rodriguez proceeds. Rodriguez is seeking $77 million in damages, alleging that Perry sexually assaulted and harassed him after casting him in the 2018 film Boo! A Madea Halloween.
Perry contends that the texts are private communications that include confidential financial details. He argues that the associates involved have no connection to the lawsuit and would face unnecessary embarrassment and annoyance if the messages become public. The documents were initially shared during the discovery phase of the case, which Rodriguez initiated in December 2025. Rodriguez states that the alleged incidents occurred at Perry’s home after he secured his role in the movie.
The complaint details specific interactions, claiming that Perry inquired about oral sex and touched Rodriguez through his clothing. Rodriguez asserts that Perry apologized for the first incident and sent $5,000 in cash. He received another $5,000 following a second alleged incident. Perry’s legal team has denied the claims, stating that Rodriguez filed the suit only after Perry stopped providing him with financial support.
The dispute over the texts follows a series of legal skirmishes between the two men. Earlier in the process, they argued over a deposition question regarding Perry’s sexual orientation. Perry maintained that he did not refuse to answer the question but rejected the premise that a specific orientation increases the likelihood of harassment. He called that assumption a bigoted lie. The current motion asks the judge to determine if the privacy interest of the third parties in the text messages outweighs the public’s right to know the contents of the discovery materials.
Rodriguez decided to pursue the lawsuit after Derek Dixon, an actor from the TV series The Oval, filed a separate suit against Perry in June 2025. Dixon’s complaint accused Perry of similar behavior. Perry’s attorney Alex Spiro previously dismissed Rodriguez’s claim as a money grab, noting that Rodriguez’s lawyer had recently lost another case against the producer. The judge has not yet issued a ruling on the motion to seal the text messages.
Source: WRNB
