Mario Rodriguez, the man who has accused Tyler Perry of sexual assault and battery, is addressing the newly surfaced text messages allegedly exchanged between the two. "I want to briefly respond to the current accusations being made against me. People are pointing to messages where I was polite, grateful, or vulnerable, and attempting to discredit me with them," Rodriguez said in a statement obtained by PEOPLE on Dec. 29.
Rodriguez, who filed a lawsuit against Perry on Dec. 25, alleging that Perry assaulted him and made unwanted sexual advances while promising him acting roles, continued, "When someone has influence over your career, income, and future, you don't feel free. Survivors often remain cordial and seek help when they feel desperate."
He further claimed, "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. Continued financial support and access are not inconsistent with abuse; they are often part of the power dynamics that follow it."
Rodriguez, a model who appeared in a minor role in Perry's 2016 movie "Boo! A Madea Halloween," is seeking $77 million in damages. Perry's attorney, Alex Spiro, previously referred to Rodriguez's suit as "nothing but a 77 million dollar money grab scam."
Newly surfaced text messages viewed by PEOPLE show that Rodriguez referred to Perry as a "friend" over Thanksgiving 2024 and spoke about his health and financial issues with him just months ago. One of Rodriguez's alleged texts to Perry read, "Just know that I love you and I thank you for everything. I appreciate you to the moon." Rodriguez allegedly followed up with two more text messages expressing his appreciation for Perry.
In his statement regarding the text messages, Rodriguez added, "In many situations involving exploitation, money can function as a way to manage guilt, avoid conflict, or maintain silence. The existence of financial assistance does not disprove harm. It is entirely consistent with the complex realities survivors face after abuse."
Perry appears to have responded to the series of alleged text messages from Rodriguez in November 2024, saying, "Happy Thanksgiving my friend. Yeap you've been through it. I'm glad you're doing well. You don't have to give me a thing or pay me a thing. I'm just glad you're good." Rodriguez allegedly replied, "I'm still going through it but you know me man, I'm a survivor just like you are and I'm glad that you're my friend and I love you bro, respectfully."
Rodriguez is being represented by attorney Jonathan J. Delshad, who also represented Derek Dixon, another actor who made similar allegations against Perry in June 2025. Perry has previously denied those claims.
Spiro told PEOPLE in a statement on Dec. 26, "Having recently failed in another matter against Mr. Perry, the very same lawyer has now made yet another demand from more than a decade ago which will also be a failed money grab." However, Delshad said Dixon's claims "are alive and well, and none of them have failed; they were just moved to a different court," as the case is being relocated from California to Georgia.
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