Filmmaker and media executive Tyler Perry has strongly denied allegations of sexual assault made by aspiring actor Mario Rodriguez, accusing his former friend and employee of attempting to pressure him into paying a multi-million-dollar settlement.
In newly filed court documents, Perry rejected claims surrounding an ongoing legal dispute and argued that Rodriguez’s lawsuit is an effort to damage his reputation after settlement negotiations failed.
The case stems from a civil lawsuit in which Rodriguez is seeking $77 million in damages, alleging that Perry sexually assaulted him on multiple occasions over a five-year period.
Perry has denied all allegations.
Perry Responds to Deposition Dispute
The latest court filings come after Rodriguez alleged that Perry refused to attend a scheduled deposition unless lawyers agreed not to question him about his sexual orientation.
According to Rodriguez, Perry’s legal team argued that questions concerning his sexuality were irrelevant to the lawsuit.
In response, Perry rejected that accusation.
According to the court filing, Perry said he is not embarrassed by his sexual orientation and criticised what he described as Rodriguez’s assumptions about the issue.
Perry argued that Rodriguez holds what he described as the “backwards belief” that he should be ashamed to answer questions about his sexual orientation.
He also stated that the suggestion that gay men are more likely to sexually assault other men is a “bigoted stereotype.”
The filing marks one of the first occasions on which Perry has publicly addressed years of speculation regarding his sexuality.
Perry Seeks Sanctions Against Rodriguez
Perry’s legal team alleges that Rodriguez filed the latest court motion after Perry refused to agree to a multi-million-dollar settlement.
According to the filing, Perry believes the lawsuit is being used to pressure him into resolving the case financially.
His attorneys are asking the court to impose sanctions against Rodriguez for what they describe as abuse of the discovery process.
The filing requests that Rodriguez be ordered to pay approximately $7,300 in legal costs.
Allegations in the Lawsuit
Rodriguez’s lawsuit alleges that he first met Perry at a gym in 2015.
According to the complaint, the relationship later resulted in Perry offering him a small acting role in the film Diary of a Mad Black Woman creator’s productions before allegedly inviting him to his home.
Rodriguez claims Perry sexually assaulted him on multiple occasions over a period of several years.
He further alleges that Perry paid him $5,000 after some of the alleged encounters.
The lawsuit seeks $77 million in damages for alleged sexual assault, sexual battery and related claims.
Perry Denies Wrongdoing
Perry has categorically denied every allegation contained in the lawsuit.
His legal team argues that Rodriguez continued communicating with him for years after the alleged incidents and frequently sought financial assistance.
According to Perry’s attorneys, Rodriguez maintained contact despite now claiming he was assaulted, a fact they argue undermines the credibility of the allegations.
The defence maintains that the lawsuit is an attempt to obtain money rather than a legitimate legal claim.
Case Continues
The dispute remains before the court, with both parties continuing to contest the allegations and procedural issues surrounding the case.
No findings of liability have been made, and the allegations contained in Rodriguez’s lawsuit have not been proven in court.
The litigation is expected to continue as the court considers the pending motions from both sides.
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