Dr. Dre sued by marriage counselor for harassment and violent threats

Music mogul Dr. Dre is embroiled in litigation because Dr. Charles Sophy, a psychiatrist who advised him throughout his public divorce from Nicole Young, accused him of bullying and harass him.

In a suit filed in Los Angeles, Sophy is seeking $10 million in damages for what he calls a “malicious harassment campaign” that Dre – whose real name is Andre Young – started.

Continued allegations against Dr. Dre

After the couple’s mediation proceedings ended in 2021, Dre allegedly tormented Sophy with a late-night barrage of scary and threatening texts, coupled with homophobic remarks, according to the lawsuit.

According to Sophy, this campaign started in 2023 and lasted about a year. It contained violent threats, which made him fear for his safety.

The lawsuit also cites an incident in which fake FBI agents allegedly showed up in Sophy’s gated community, attempting to gain access to her home. This event prompted Sophy to start wearing a bulletproof vest as a precaution, highlighting the seriousness of her fears.

Dr. Dre’s Response and Counterclaims

In response, Dr. Dre’s legal team, led by attorney Howard King, denies the allegations and counters that the lawsuit is retaliation by Sophy.

King claims Sophy only filed the lawsuit after failing to pressure Dre into dropping the complaint he filed with the Osteopathic Medical Board of California in 2023.

That complaint accused Sophy of unprofessional conduct during her mediation in Dre’s divorce and sought revocation of her medical license.

The complaint suggests that Sophy encouraged one of Dre and Nicole Young’s children to take sides against Dre, further escalating family tensions. Dre’s legal team claims this unethical behavior was part of a larger effort to force Dre into a financial settlement.

Text messages as proof

The key to Sophy’s case lies in several text messages allegedly sent by Dre, which were included as exhibits in the trial.

In a February 2023 post, Dre allegedly texted Sophy to tell her he had been told something. “worrisome” and added menacingly, “You’re going to have to pay for this.” Other texts reportedly contained derogatory insults and threats.

Sophy, in her complaint, claims that Dre’s history of alleged abusive behavior toward women makes these threats particularly concerning.

The lawsuit references Dre’s previous legal troubles, including a 1991 assault on journalist Dee Barnes and other allegations of abuse by his former girlfriend, Michel’le, and musician Tairrie B. Murphy.

The impact of Dre’s alleged harassment

Sophy’s legal team, led by attorney Christopher Frost, says no one should have to endure the kind of abusive behavior Dre allegedly exhibited.

Frost describes Dre’s actions as an unacceptable method of expressing frustration, particularly when addressing a mental health professional who was working to help the family through an emotionally difficult time.

Sophy is seeking not only financial compensation, but also a court order to prohibit Dre from contacting him further.

The lawsuit is the most recent development in Dre and Nicole Young’s acrimonious divorce, which began in 2020 after 24 years of marriage. Highly publicized court battles over financial settlements and accusations from both parties characterized the divorce proceedings.

Representatives for Dr. Dre have yet to respond to inquiries regarding the most recent lawsuit, and the Osteopathic Medical Board of California has not released any information about the progress of Dre’s 2023 complaint against Sophy.

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