Usher is suing one of his longtime music producers, other associates and their attorney over a loan he says he gave them for a Buckhead restaurant that never opened.
Usher Raymond filed the lawsuit in Fulton County on Friday against Bryan-Michael Cox, Keith Thomas, Charles Hughes and entertainment lawyer Alcide Honoré. Cox has produced some of Usher’s biggest hits, including “Burn” and “U Got It Bad.” Thomas and Hughes also work in the entertainment industry.
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Usher says the group came to him last year with the idea to open a restaurant and lounge called Homage ATL. The group looked to purchase property at 3102 Piedmont Road in Buckhead, the former site of Ocean Prime restaurant that closed in 2015.
The singer did not want to be an investor, but agreed to loan the group $1.7 million and wired it to a trust account in January, according to the lawsuit.
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Months later, the property still hadn’t been purchased and over the summer, Usher asked for the loan to be repaid. He received $1 million in August, but said he hasn’t received the remaining balance of $700,000.
Usher’s lawsuit accuses Honoré of admitting that giving the money back was “not that easy” because it had been used for “other purposes.”
The lawsuit requests $4.9 million in damages, $700,000 for each of the seven claims in the lawsuit.
Bryan-Michael Cox posted the following statement on his Instagram Tuesday.
“I’ve learned a lot recently about being careful with who you choose to invest in a business with. No matter how small the investment….I’m currently in the middle of a failed deal that I didn’t orchestrate, and while the situation has been disappointing, I know my name will be cleared by both sides. It’s just unfortunate that this clarity didn’t come sooner. My legal team has also advised me of a lawsuit involving a company where I am only a passive minority shareholder. I was not a participant in that business transaction and have no involvement in the ongoing legal process. While I’m unable to share more details right now, I want to make one thing absolutely clear: my 27-year friendship with @usher remains fully intact. I appreciate everyone who has reached out with concern. Thank you for the love, the patience, and the understanding."
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