Perry asks judge to shield $77M lawsuit texts

Tyler Perry is asking a Los Angeles court to block the public release of text messages he exchanged with business associates. The request comes as a $77 million civil lawsuit filed by actor Mario Rodriguez moves through the discovery phase. Perry argues the digital records should remain sealed to protect sensitive financial data.

Rodriguez filed the suit in December 2025, alleging that Perry sexually assaulted and harassed him after casting him in the film Boo! A Madea Halloween. The actor claims the incidents occurred in 2018 at Perry’s home. He is seeking $77 million in damages from the filmmaker.

The text messages were revealed during discovery proceedings. Perry contends that these conversations are private and include confidential financial information. He notes that the associates involved in the messages have no connection to the current legal dispute. Perry stated that releasing the content would subject them to unnecessary embarrassment and annoyance.

According to the court documents, Perry asked Rodriguez about oral sex and touched him through his pants. Rodriguez says Perry apologized for the first alleged incident and sent $5,000. The actor claims a second incident occurred, after which Perry sent another $5,000.

Rodriguez says he was encouraged to come forward after Derek Dixon, an actor from The Oval, filed a similar suit against Perry in June 2025. Dixon accused Perry of similar behavior. Rodriguez’s legal team had previously sought to have Perry reveal his sexual orientation during a deposition, a move Perry’s lawyer Alex Spiro criticized.

Spiro called the new lawsuit a failed money grab, noting that Rodriguez’s lawyer had previously lost another matter against Perry. Perry has denied all allegations, stating that Rodriguez only filed the suit after the filmmaker stopped providing him with financial assistance. Perry argued that the notion a specific sexual orientation makes someone more likely to harass another person is a bigoted lie.

The judge will now review the motion to seal the text messages. The decision will determine whether the public can view the communications between Perry and his associates as the trial date approaches.