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Dr. Dre threatens to sue Sony over movie filmed in Cincinnati

Dr. Dre threatens to sue Sony over movie filmed in Cincinnati
Posted at 7:04 PM, Oct 11, 2016
and last updated 2016-10-12 09:12:19-04

Rapper and music producer Dr. Dre has threatened legal action against the creators of a made-for-TV movie depicting his alleged abuse of ex-girlfriend Michel'le, Pitchfork reported Tuesday. Parts of the film were shot in Hyde Park and Middletown in July.

According to Pitchfork, Dre’s legal team served Sony Pictures with a cease and desist letter over the Michel’le biopic "Surviving Compton: Dre, Suge & Me," and “flatly denies ever abusing Michel’le." TMZ reported that the letter also claims the singer never sought medical treatment or filed a police report during her decade-long relationship with Dre.

"Surviving Compton" plays as a response to "Straight Outta Compton," a 2015 N.W.A. biopic that attracted criticism on release for failing to address the repeated claims of violent abuse and misogyny that have been leveled at Dre by journalist Dee Barnes -- who wrote a scathing review of the film for omitting Dre's physical assault on her at a 1991 record release party -- rapper Tairrie B and Michel’le herself.

Dre himself released a statement to the New York Times on Aug. 21, 2015, in which he wrote:

"I apologize to the women I’ve hurt. I deeply regret what I did and know that it has forever impacted all of our lives."

Michel’le rebuked the apology.

"He’s selling a movie," she said. "I think it’s just good PR at the moment."

Dre’s threat of litigation had claimed headlines, but "Surviving Compton" is still, as of Tuesday night, scheduled to air on Lifetime Oct. 15.