Mario Rodriguez -- the man who accused Tyler Perry of sexual battery last week -- says friendly text messages the two allegedly exchanged don’t undermine his claims and are actually consistent with his account.
The model and actor told PEOPLE ... “I want to briefly respond to what’s being said about me right now. People are pointing to messages where I was polite, grateful, or vulnerable — and trying to use that to discredit me.”
He continues, “When someone has influence over your career, your income, your future, you don’t feel free. Survivors often stay cordial. They often ask for help when they feel desperate.”
Rodriguez adds that the messages don’t negate his allegations. “That does not mean abuse didn’t happen. Those text messages were sent 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.”
A new photo shows Dakota and RM -- whose real name is Tucker Pillsbury -- huddled over a candlelit dinner over the holiday with friends, and we're told they got very close.
Sources tell us Dakota was lying on him all cuddled up at the cozy dinner.
Dakota was snapped taking a sip from her glass as they both leaned forward, engulfed in conversation with another dinner guest.
Glen Powell and Michelle Randolph are officially turning up the heat ... the new couple was spotted sneaking in a South Florida getaway over the weekend.
TMZ obtained photos of the pair leaving 1 Hotel South Beach in Miami on Saturday and making a beeline for a private airport. The duo didn't go straight there, though. They made stops for gas and even swung by a smoke shop along the way. Glen showed he's still got his leading man manners, holding the door open for his new girlfriend like a total gentleman.
Sources tell TMZ ... the romance is moving fast, and after leaving Miami, the couple took things international, jetting off to the Caribbean hot spot of St. Barts to keep their holiday vacation going.
Tyler Perry's alleged text messages with his sexual battery accuser Mario Rodriguez seem to show the other man asking Perry for money prior to filing a lawsuit against him.
We've obtained alleged text messages between Rodriguez and Perry ... with several sent on August 31 of this year.
Check out the messages which were allegedly sent by Rodriguez ... beginning with him writing he hasn't been feeling well recently and blaming it on his teeth.
American actor Reginald VelJohnson was 35 years old when he played Sgt. Al Powell -- the empathetic and brave LAPD patrol cop -- in the holiday classic film "Die Hard" back in 1988.
Brigitte Bardot, the French actress who became one of the world's first global sex symbols, has died.
Her foundation announced her death Sunday in a statement shared with French news agency AFP, confirming the iconic star passed away at her home in southern France after spending decades devoted to animal rights.
No cause of death has been released. Her passing comes months after she underwent surgery for a serious illness in October.
Concealed in this altered photo is an actor who once rapped under a fake name back in high school. Given the clues, can you guess who he is?
He about broke the internet when he and his bae showed up to a carpet, both in orange 'fits ... He loves chocolate, or he at least pretended to. He stars in a movie with Gwyneth Paltrow.
Ana de Armas might not be a real "Ballerina," but she's certainly got the physique of one ... just check out her slender frame in this form-fitting workout ensemble.
The actress stepped out in Los Angeles Saturday ... baring her abs in a crop top and leggings combo while leaving the gym.
de Armas looked every bit the movie star in her sungalsses ... her face naturally a sexy smolder.
Miles Teller gave his wife Keleigh Sperry a little Christmas magic this holiday season ... gifting her a replica of her wedding dress which burned in the destructive Los Angeles wildfires earlier this year.
Sperry shared the video to social media Friday night ... showing his better half opening a big red box topped with a festive bow to find a dress zipped up in protective plastic. Keleigh instantly asks him if the dress she's holding is her wedding dress ... and Miles can't contain his excitement -- spoiling the surprise with a quick affirmative.
Keleigh becomes visibly emotional as she holds up the dress ... letting out a few sobs before Miles cuts off the video.
Tyler Perry is being sued by an actor who appeared in "Boo! A Madea Halloween" ... with the actor accusing Perry of making unwanted advances and groping him without consent.
Mario Rodriguez -- a model and actor -- filed the lawsuit against Perry and Lionsgate Films Thursday in California ... claiming he first connected with Perry in 2015 after a gym trainer approached him and told him Perry wanted to meet him.
Rodriguez claims Perry called him later the same day, and that Perry told him he was writing a new movie which might contain a part for him. Rodriguez says he told Perry he didn't have any acting experience, to which he allegedly replied ... "You know, Mario, I'm not a bad person to know and have in your corner."
Chevy Chase was put into a coma by doctors for more than a week after his heart failed in 2021, friends and family of the star revealed in a new documentary.
The actor and his loved ones gave extensive interviews for CNN's new documentary, "I’m Chevy Chase and You’re Not" according to Variety.
Chevy's wife, Jayni Chase, says in the new doc that she took her husband to the emergency room because they didn't know what was wrong with him ... which was when his heart just stopped.
Sure, being an actor's a dream job for plenty of folks out there, but even actors have their own dream jobs ... can you guess who this racing enthusiast is?
We ran into this guy while he was hanging out with fans on Hollywood Boulevard, and he gushed about his admiration for pro racers ... the ones not on light cycles, of course!
Still, he admitted he wouldn't be up to the task of switching lanes and moving from acting into racing ... take a spin at guessing who!
Dua Lipa may be done with her "Radical Optimism" tour, but she clearly kept the vibes alive ... playing hype woman for fiancé Callum Turner, who looked like he needed a serious vaycay pick-me-up.
Check out these pics -- Dua was spotted going full comfort mode, wrapping her arms around Callum as he looked seriously down in the dumps this week in sunny Mexico, trying to figure out what had him so bothered.
Callum looked seriously bummed -- but with how caring and tuned-in Dua was, it definitely didn’t seem like the blues had anything to do with trouble between the two.
10:27 AM PT -- A rep for Kevin Spacey tells TMZ ... “The 2002 trip to Africa with President Clinton to support AIDS causes and meet Nelson Mandela remains a genuine highlight in Kevin’s life. The fact that the plane was owned by Jeffrey Epstein is immaterial considering it was three years before Epstein was ever investigated. Whatever wrongdoing may have been taking place in the background has nothing to do with Kevin, any more than a hotel guest is responsible for actions occurring in a neighboring room. Kevin never saw or spoke to Jeffrey Epstein or Ghislaine Maxwell ever again.”
Kevin Spacey -- who vehemently called for the release of the Epstein Files this summer -- has been included in the trove of pics just released today.
In the image released by the U.S. Department of Justice ... the "American Beauty" star leans on the back of a chair alongside Bill Clinton, appearing to be in mid-conversation. They're standing in a room before a conference table littered with pads and writing utensils, suggesting they're preparing for a meeting of some sort.
According to CNN, the pic was taken inside the Cabinet Room of the Churchill War Rooms -- which is an underground bunker in London.
Clinton reportedly took Epstein's private jet on a humanitarian trip to Africa with Spacey in 2002.
Steven Spielberg is no fan of Ben Affleck and even refused to work with the actor after an incident involving the legendary director's child, according to Mike Binder.
Binder -- who's also a Hollywood filmmaker -- made the shocking claim about Spielberg and Affleck on a recent episode of Stephen Baldwin's podcast, "One Bad Movie."
Binder says the bad blood began when Spielberg approached him years ago about collabing on a movie called "Man About Town," which Spielberg was interested in directing himself. Binder says the two struck a deal with a handshake ... but things took a wrong turn when Affleck signed on as the star.
