Messages Show Gratitude and Distress
One exchange dated Thanksgiving 2024 shows Rodriguez thanking Perry for helping him through difficult chapters of his life, telling him he appreciated him “to the moon,” according to the screenshots. In another thread from Aug. 31, 2025, Rodriguez detailed ongoing health problems, said he lacked insurance, and described fear and financial hardship.
The messages were shared with the AP by a person close to the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity, citing a lack of authorization to discuss the situation publicly. The AP generally does not identify people who allege sexual abuse unless they choose to come forward, as Rodriguez has done.
Related Lawsuit Adds Context
The filing follows a separate case brought in June by actor Derek Dixon, who alleges Perry groped him while Dixon worked on Perry’s television series “The Oval” and “Ruthless.” That case began in California state court before moving to federal court in Georgia, where Perry is based. Perry has also denied Dixon’s claims.
AP contacted Rodriguez’s attorney, Jonathan Delshad — who also represents Dixon — seeking comment on the text messages but did not receive a response.
As the lawsuit unfolds, the newly surfaced messages add layers to a case already dense with allegations, denials and competing narratives — a legal drama where the past and present collide, line by line, on a phone screen.
