Tyler Perry Seeks to Keep Private Messages Confidential in $77m Lawsuit

American filmmaker Tyler Perry has asked a court to keep private text messages with his associates confidential as he continues to defend himself against allegations made by actor Mario Rodriguez.

According to court documents obtained by TMZ, Perry said he had submitted messages exchanged with several associates as part of the ongoing legal proceedings. However, he wants the conversations kept private under a confidentiality agreement previously reached by both parties.

The filmmaker argued that some of the messages contained financial discussions and that everyone involved understood the exchanges to be private.

He also maintained that the associates had no connection to the allegations in the lawsuit. According to Perry, making the messages public could cause unnecessary embarrassment and distress.

Rodriguez had not responded to the confidentiality request at the time of the report. The dispute is part of his $77 million lawsuit against Perry, in which he accuses the filmmaker of sexual assault.

Also Read: Victor Osimhen and Partner Stefanie Welcome Second Child

Details of Mario Rodriguez’s allegations

Rodriguez said he met Perry at a gym in 2015. The meeting reportedly led to a role in the filmmaker’s comedy film, Boo! A Madea Halloween.

In his lawsuit, Rodriguez alleged that Perry assaulted him during a visit to the filmmaker’s home in 2018. He claimed that Perry made a sexual proposition before touching him without consent. He further alleged that the filmmaker later apologised and gave him $5,000.

Rodriguez also claimed that another incident of unwanted touching occurred during a separate meeting, after which he received another $5,000 payment.

However, Perry and his company have denied all allegations of wrongdoing.

The filmmaker argued that Rodriguez continued communicating with him after the alleged incidents. He also claimed that the lawsuit was filed after he stopped providing financial assistance to the actor.

Dispute over deposition questions

The legal battle has also raised questions about whether Perry should be required to answer questions about his sexuality during a deposition.

His lawyer, Alex Spiro, previously described the lawsuit to TMZ as a “shakedown”.

The allegations and the competing accounts remain before the court, while the parties continue to dispute aspects of the case.