Chad Hugo Sues Pharrell Williams, Alleging Withheld Royalties and Financial Obfuscation

In a new development to their ongoing legal battles, Chad Hugo has filed suit against Pharrell Williams, accusing him of withholding royalties and crucial financial information. This action follows their previous legal entanglement in 2024, where Hugo challenged Williams' attempt to trademark the Neptunes name without his consent.

Hugo claims that Williams has not only failed to distribute appropriate royalties but has also refused to provide necessary documentation to ascertain the full extent of what he is owed. The suit alleges that Hugo could be entitled to as much as $1 million in damages specifically related to N.E.R.D.'s 2017 album, No One Ever Really Dies.

According to Billboard, Hugo’s attorney, Brent J. Lehman of Munck Wilson Mandala, stated, "Williams engaged in self-dealing, concealed material information, and … diverted revenues owed to plaintiff. Such willful, fraudulent, and malicious conduct warrants the imposition of punitive damages."

The lawsuit further elaborates that Hugo has allegedly not received his rightful share of royalties from Neptunes and N.E.R.D. album sales, released music, touring income, and various merchandising agreements.

Despite continuing to collaborate between 2020 and 2022, Hugo reportedly sought financial transparency from Williams in 2021, requesting "monthly statements, books and records, and royalty statements" as stipulated by their operating agreement. After alleged refusals, Hugo's legal team initiated demand letters, which purportedly yielded only "limited" and "incomplete" documents.

In a statement to Billboard, Lehman emphasized the gravity of the situation: "After years of obfuscation by Pharrell and his team, Mr. Hugo had no choice but to seek substantial compensation and accountability in court. We look forward to presenting the evidence and obtaining the full relief the law provides."