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Mario Rodriguez, the mannequin and actor who sued Tyler Perry accusing the mogul of sexual assault and sexual battery final week, responded Monday to on-line backlash to variety of “cordial” textual content messages between him and Perry that some say contradicts the character of his allegations.
On Dec. 25, Rodriguez filed a lawsuit towards Perry accusing him of sexually assaulting him over a interval of a number of years. Rodriguez, who appeared in a small position in Perry’s 2016 movie “Boo! A Madea Halloween,” has accused Perry of creating undesirable sexual advances towards him, all whereas promising future appearing work. Rodriguez’s grievance alleges he ended contact with Perry in 2019 however that the “Madea” filmmaker periodically tried to reconnect with him.
The newly surfaced texts present Rodriguez being pleasant with Perry as just lately as Thanksgiving 2024 and thanking him for his private and monetary assist. In an announcement shared with Folks, Rodriguez contended that the texts don’t discredit his claims however slightly additional illustrate the poisonous “energy dynamics” that had been established between him and Perry.
“I wish to briefly reply to what’s being mentioned about me proper now. Individuals are pointing to messages the place I used to be well mannered, grateful, or weak — and attempting to make use of that to discredit me,” Rodriguez mentioned in an announcement Monday. “When somebody has affect over your profession, your earnings, your future, you don’t be happy. Survivors typically keep cordial. They typically ask for assist once they really feel determined.
“That doesn’t imply abuse didn’t occur. These textual content messages had been despatched to Perry at a time once I was particularly weak as may be seen from the context,” Rodriguez’s assertion continued. “Continued monetary assist and entry usually are not inconsistent with abuse—they’re typically a part of the ability dynamics that observe it.
“In lots of conditions involving exploitation, cash can operate as a option to handle guilt, keep away from battle or preserve silence,” he concluded. “The existence of economic help doesn’t disprove hurt. It’s completely per the advanced realities survivors face after abuse.”
Within the just lately surfaced texts, Rodriguez wrote to Perry, “Simply know that I like you and I thanks for every thing. I admire you to the moon.” Elsewhere, he informed the multi-hyphenate “Madea” star and filmmaker, “You bought my Mexican ass out of a variety of unhealthy locations and I simply wanna inform you thanks.”
“I can’t purchase you something, however I simply wanna inform you that your boy proper right here appreciates you greater than something,” Rodriguez’s alleged texts learn. “Straight from my coronary heart bro nothing I wouldn’t do for you man in any case get pleasure from your time and I hope I see you once more quickly.”
In final 12 months’s correspondence, Perry reportedly wrote, “Comfortable Thanksgiving my pal. Yeap you’ve been by way of it. I’m glad you’re doing properly. You don’t have to provide me a factor or pay me a factor. I’m simply glad you’re good.” Rodriguez allegedly wrote again, “I’m nonetheless going by way of it however you recognize me man, I’m a survivor identical to you might be and I’m glad that you just’re my pal and I like you bro, respectfully.”
Rodriguez is in search of $77 million in damages for Perry’s alleged sexual assault, sexual battery and intentional infliction of emotional misery. He’s being represented by legal professional Jonathan J. Delshad, the authorized consultant for Derek Dixon, an actor who appeared in Perry’s “The Oval” and who additionally filed a lawsuit towards the filmmaker in June. In his lawsuit, Dixon accuses Perry of sexual harassment and assault and is in search of no less than $260 million in punitive damages.
So far, Perry has denied all of the allegations towards him. In an announcement to Folks final week, his legal professional Alex Spiro known as Rodriguez’s lawsuit “nothing however a $77 million cash seize rip-off.”
“Having just lately failed in one other matter towards Mr. Perry, the exact same lawyer has now made yet one more demand from greater than a decade in the past, which may also be a failed cash seize,” Spiro argued. In response, Delshad mentioned that Dixon’s lawsuit is “alive and properly” and that none of his claims “have failed” however have merely been moved to a distinct court docket.
Lionsgate, which distributed “Boo! A Madea Halloween,” can also be named in Rodriguez’s lawsuit, which claims that the studio knew about Perry’s alleged conduct and ignored it.
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