Music mogul Dr. Dre is being sued for at least $10 million by a Southern California psychotherapist, Dr. Charles Sophy, who claims he suffered “systematic and malicious” harassment that left him in fear for his life, forcing him to wear a bulletproof vest.
According to a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court, Sophy alleges Dre, whose real name is Andre Young, hired him in 2018 to mediate the end of his marriage to his now ex-wife, Nicole Young. Sophy states he worked diligently to help resolve their issues and stopped communicating with Dre after the couple settled their divorce in late 2021.
However, about 14 months later, Dre allegedly began sending unexpected text messages, accusing Sophy of misconduct—allegations the psychotherapist denies. The lawsuit details a year of late-night texts, threats, and homophobic remarks from Dre, who seemed to take his frustrations out on Sophy.
Dre’s attorney, Howard King, told Rolling Stone that Dre had previously filed a confidential complaint with the Osteopathic Medical Board of California, seeking to revoke Sophy’s license for “dereliction of duties and incredible incompetence.” King claims Sophy acted unethically during the divorce by treating both Dre and Nicole, as well as their children, and allegedly encouraging one child to turn against Dre to force a financial settlement.
Sophy’s legal filing claims Dre sent him a threatening text on February 16, 2023, accusing him of misconduct and warning that he would “have to pay.” Despite Sophy’s attempt to calm the situation, Dre continued with threatening messages, including a demand for a written apology in March 2023, warning that he wasn’t “playing.”
In June 2023, Dre allegedly tried to coerce Sophy into disclosing confidential information from a therapy session, which Sophy refused. By August, Dre sent another intimidating message, causing Sophy to fear even more for his safety.
Sophy also claims that following the initial texts in February, a security guard informed him of individuals posing as FBI agents attempting to reach his home, making him feel unsafe even there.
As a result, the lawsuit describes how Sophy now lives in fear, wearing a bulletproof vest outside and being hyper-aware of his surroundings. The suit accuses Dre of civil harassment, violent threats related to Sophy’s sexual orientation, and seeks a court order to prevent further contact. Sophy is seeking compensatory damages of at least $10 million, along with punitive damages to be determined at trial.