Dr. Dre’s Ex-Therapist Files $10M Lawsuit, Claims He’s Been Forced to Wear a Bulletproof Vest Due to Threats

Dr. Dre’s former psychiatrist, Dr. Charles Sophy, has filed a $10 million lawsuit against the hip-hop icon, claiming Dre has been bombarding him with threats that have left him fearing for his safety. According to legal documents obtained by TMZ, Dr. Sophy—who provided marriage counseling to Dr. Dre and his ex-wife, Nicole Young, and later acted as a mediator in their high-profile divorce—alleges that Dre’s harassment became so severe, he now wears a bulletproof vest whenever he leaves his home.

The lawsuit states that 14 months after Dre and Nicole’s divorce was finalized, the music mogul allegedly began sending Dr. Sophy abusive and threatening text messages. Dr. Sophy claims Dre has been accusing him of instigating negative press about him during the divorce proceedings, despite there being no evidence to support this claim. According to the suit, Dre has repeatedly called Dr. Sophy derogatory names, including “b****” and “piece of s***,” and has threatened to “make you pay for that.”

Dr. Sophy alleges that Dre’s harassment escalated in February 2023, when Dre allegedly hired men to impersonate FBI agents in an effort to gain access to his gated community and intimidate him. Dr. Sophy says this incident forced him to ramp up security around his home, and he now refuses to leave his residence without wearing a bulletproof vest and cap for protection.

In his lawsuit, Dr. Sophy is seeking $10 million in damages and is requesting a restraining order to keep Dre at least 100 yards away from him. The psychiatrist claims that Dre’s actions have caused him significant emotional distress, forcing him to live in fear for his personal safety.

Responding to the lawsuit, Dr. Dre’s attorney, Howard King, dismissed Dr. Sophy’s allegations, framing the lawsuit as an attempt to dodge accountability. King alleges that Dr. Sophy only filed the suit after Dre pursued complaints against him with the Osteopathic Medical Board of California. According to King, Dre has accused Dr. Sophy of violating professional ethics and competence, specifically alleging that the psychiatrist inserted himself into Dre and Nicole’s contentious divorce, while treating both them and their children.

King further claims that Dr. Sophy was “terminated” after allegedly encouraging one of Dre’s children to turn against him and even suggesting that the child go public with false accusations to force a financial settlement. The complaint filed with the Medical Board seeks to revoke Dr. Sophy’s medical license, according to King, who adds that the psychiatrist has consistently resisted the Board’s attempts to investigate these claims.

Dre’s legal team asserts that Dr. Sophy’s lawsuit is a desperate attempt to counter these accusations as the Medical Board’s investigation intensifies. They argue that Dr. Sophy is trying to paint himself as the victim in order to distract from what Dre’s attorneys describe as “dereliction of duties and incredible incompetence.”