Tyler Perry Denies Male Accuser’s Claim He Refused Deposition To Avoid Sexuality Questions

Derek Dixon, Tyler Perry

Tyler Perry Denies Male Accuser’s Claim He Refused Deposition To Avoid Sexuality Questions

#TylerPerry is firing back at the man suing him for s3xual a$$ault, accusing him of using legal pressure tactics after rejecting a multimillion-dollar settlement offer.

In new court filings obtained by TMZ, Perry’s legal team disputes accuser Mario Rodriguez’s claim that Perry refused to sit for a deposition unless questions about his sexual orientation were off the table. Perry’s side says he’d already agreed to be deposed and argues Rodriguez’s underlying theory — that being attracted to men makes someone more likely to assault a man — amounts to a harmful stereotype rather than a legitimate legal argument.

According to the filing, the dispute escalated after Perry turned down a multimillion-dollar settlement proposal from Rodriguez, who then filed a motion seeking sanctions over the deposition standoff. Perry’s team characterizes that move as an attempt to damage his reputation and force a payout rather than a genuine discovery dispute. In response, Perry is asking the court to sanction Rodriguez roughly $7,300 for what he calls an abuse of the discovery process.

The underlying suit, filed by Rodriguez for $77 million, alleges the two met at a gym in 2015, after which Perry cast him in a film and later a$$aulted him during visits to his home — claims that include an alleged apology and $5,000 payment following one incident. Perry denies all wrongdoing, and his team has previously said Rodriguez continued reaching out for years after the alleged incidents, only raising the a$$ault allegations once Perry stopped providing him financial support.