Music mogul Dr. Dre is at the center of a $10 million lawsuit filed by Dr. Charles Sophy, a psychotherapist who previously served as the marriage counselor during Dre’s high-profile divorce from his ex-wife, Nicole Young.
The case filed Wednesday (Oct. 9) in Los Angeles court which was obtained by Billboard accuses Dre of launching a “malicious” and “sustained” campaign of harassment against Dr. Sophy.
Nicole Young filed for divorce from Dr. Dre in 2020 after 24 years of marriage, citing allegations of abusive behavior that Dre vehemently denied. After another 18 months of legal wrangling, the couple finalized their divorce in December 2021 with a $100 million settlement.
According to the lawsuit, Dre’s frustrations over the mediation process allegedly turned into a personal vendetta against Sophy. The lawsuit states that Dre sent late-night texts containing threats of intimidation and violence, as well as homophobic rhetoric aimed at Sophy.
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Sophy, who was initially hired by Dre in 2018, says the harassment continued for nearly a year, with Dre reportedly becoming more aggressive through texts. In one particularly alarming message from February 2023, Dre told Sophy that he had been told something “disturbing” by an unnamed person, followed by a threat: “You’re going to have to pay for that.”
Further fueling the lawsuit, Sophy alleges that fake FBI agents arrived at his gated community in an attempt to enter his home. The alleged incident reportedly took place in the same month, leading the doctor to fear for his life. According to the lawsuit, Sophy began wearing a bulletproof vest for protection due to the escalating threats.
Rolling Stone reported that Dre, whose real name is Andre Young, made several false accusations against Dr. Sophy. In another text, Dre allegedly demanded a written apology from the therapist, stating, “If not, I’m moving forward. I’m not playing, trust me.”
The lawsuit also accuses Dre of targeting Sophy based on his sexual orientation. According to Sophy, some of Dre’s threats were rooted in homophobic remarks, which further fueled his decision to take legal action. The psychotherapist is suing for civil harassment and threats of violence, in addition to the $10 million in damages.
The lawsuit is now heading to court, where Dr. Sophy is also seeking a restraining order to prohibit any further contact from Dre.
UPDATED: Dr. Dre Responds to $10 Million Malpractice Lawsuit Filed by Former Psychiatrist
