A confidential source claims that the man accusing Tyler Perry of sexual misconduct is preparing to subpoena the filmmaker’s celebrity friends as the legal battle escalates.
Aspiring actor Mario Rodriguez, 40, has filed a lawsuit alleging that Perry made unwanted advances and groped him. Blogger Janet Carlton reported that Rodriguez intends to call several of Perry’s high profile associates, including Oprah Winfrey, to testify under oath about Perry’s behavior.
“One of the biggest stories of the week was mega producer Tyler Perry being sued by yet another attractive male for s-xual harassment. Here’s what we know. This could get even uglier than it already is, since the purported victim, aspiring star Mario Rodriguez, is planning to subpoena Tyler’s famous friends, including Oprah Winfrey, to grill them about Tyler’s behavior. My source predicts that a settlement deal will eventually be the outcome, if for no other reason than to spare Tyler’s celebrity pals the embarrassment of having to testify.”
Carlton wrote that the case could become more damaging, with her source predicting it may end in a settlement to avoid forcing Perry’s celebrity circle into the courtroom.
Perry’s legal team has submitted text messages to the court that they say undermine Rodriguez’s claims. In the messages, Rodriguez appears to ask Perry for money for medical expenses and thanks him for past financial help. In one message he wrote that he felt sick most days and did not have insurance, thanking Perry for getting him out of difficult situations. In another, he expressed deep appreciation, writing that there was nothing he would not do for him.
Rodriguez later claimed in a video that the same messages show he was a victim.
According to IMDb, Rodriguez has only two acting credits, a role in the television series Family Business in 2020 and a small part in Tyler Perry’s 2016 film Boo! A Madea Halloween.
