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Tyler Perry is asking a court to keep private text messages confidential as he continues to fight a $77 million sexual assault lawsuit filed by actor Mario Rodriguez.
According to court documents obtained by TMZ, the filmmaker says he turned over text messages with associates during the legal proceedings. However, he wants the communications protected from public disclosure under a confidentiality agreement the parties previously reached.
Perry argues that some of the messages discuss financial matters and involve people who have no connection to the lawsuit. He also says the individuals involved believed their conversations would remain private.
The latest dispute adds another development to the ongoing legal battle. Rodriguez has accused Perry of sexual misconduct, while the filmmaker has denied the allegations.
Tyler Perry wants private messages protected
Perry is seeking to prevent Rodriguez from publicly disclosing the messages exchanged with his associates.
The filmmaker reportedly argues that releasing the communications could cause unnecessary embarrassment and annoyance to people who are not involved in the case.
He also maintains that the messages contain private financial discussions that should not become public simply because they were provided during the legal process.
According to TMZ, Rodriguez had not filed a response to Perry’s request at the time of its report on October 29, 2026.
The exact contents of the messages and the court’s decision on the confidentiality request have not been established in the available reporting.
Mario Rodriguez’s lawsuit seeks $77 million
The dispute stems from a lawsuit Rodriguez filed against Perry in December 2025. The actor is seeking at least $77 million in damages over allegations of sexual assault, sexual battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
Rodriguez appeared in Perry’s 2016 film Boo! A Madea Halloween, where he played a minor character identified as Frat Guy #10.
According to the complaint, Rodriguez first connected with Perry through a personal trainer at a Los Angeles gym. He alleges that the introduction led to discussions about acting opportunities.
Rodriguez claims Perry later made unwanted sexual advances during visits to the filmmaker’s home. The lawsuit describes alleged incidents spanning several years, including an encounter in which Rodriguez says Perry touched him inappropriately.
These claims remain allegations and have not been established as facts in court.
Perry denies the allegations
Perry has denied wrongdoing in the case. His attorney, Alex Spiro, has also strongly challenged the lawsuit.
Perry’s legal position includes arguments about Rodriguez’s communications with him after the alleged incidents. The filmmaker has contended that Rodriguez continued reaching out and seeking financial assistance before their relationship deteriorated.
However, Rodriguez has disputed the suggestion that continued communication undermines his allegations. In a statement reported by The Associated Press in December 2025, he argued that people can remain cordial with someone they accuse of abuse, particularly when financial support or professional opportunities are involved.
The competing accounts remain part of the broader legal dispute.
The text messages add another layer to the case
Messages between Perry and Rodriguez have already drawn attention during the lawsuit.
In December 2025, The Associated Press reported on messages that appeared to show Rodriguez contacting Perry in 2024 and 2025. The exchanges included expressions of gratitude and messages about financial difficulties and health concerns.
Rodriguez’s legal representative argued at the time that those communications did not disprove the allegations. Perry’s attorney, meanwhile, has rejected the claims against the filmmaker.
The latest confidentiality dispute concerns messages with Perry’s associates, according to TMZ, rather than simply the earlier exchanges between Perry and Rodriguez.
For now, Perry is seeking to keep those communications from being released publicly. The court’s handling of the request could determine whether the messages remain protected as the $77 million lawsuit proceeds.
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