Dr. Dre Sued for $10M by Psychiatrist Over Threats and Harassment

Dr. Dre, the famous rapper and producer, is facing a $10 million lawsuit from Dr. Charles J. Sophy, a psychiatrist who claims Dre sent him a series of abusive and threatening messages. Sophy, who served as a marriage counselor for Dre and his ex-wife Nicole Young, filed the suit on October 9 in a Los Angeles court.

The lawsuit accuses Dre of starting a “campaign of harassment” in February 2023, more than a year after the couple's divorce was finalized. According to court documents, Dre allegedly sent offensive texts to Sophy, calling him derogatory names and threatening his safety. Sophy also claims that Dre sent associates posing as FBI agents to intimidate him. In addition to the financial damages, Sophy is seeking a restraining order against the rapper.

Sophy’s lawyer, Christopher Frost, said that Dre's behavior stemmed from frustrations related to the mediation process during the divorce. The psychiatrist alleges that Dre’s threats included homophobic language, which could violate California's hate crime laws.

Dre's lawyer, Howard King, countered the claims, arguing that Sophy only filed the lawsuit after Dre sought to have him punished for incompetence in handling the divorce. King further accused Sophy of encouraging one of Dre’s children to take sides against him during the split. Dre had previously filed a complaint with the California Osteopathic Medical Board to revoke Sophy’s license, citing his poor conduct during the couple’s therapy sessions.

Nicole Young filed for divorce from Dre in 2020 after 24 years of marriage, alleging abusive behavior, though Dre denied the claims. Their divorce was settled in December 2021, with Dre agreeing to a $100 million payout.