Pharrell Hits Back At Chad Hugo’s Financial Impropriety Allegations

2026 is shaping as much as be one other profitable 12 months for Pharrell. Unfortunately, nevertheless, there appears to be only one factor in the best way. Earlier this month, it was reported that he’s being sued by his Neptunes collaborator, Chad Hugo. Hugo, who was additionally a member of the band N.E.R.D. alongside Pharrell and Shay Haley, accuses the Virginia Beach-born performer of economic impropriety.

Allegedly, he “has not acquired his applicable share of royalties in reference to The Neptunes and N.E.R.D.’s album gross sales and launched music, in addition to distributions from touring earnings, and numerous merchandising offers.” Hugo calls the musical ventures “two of probably the most influential musical forces of their era. In the go well with, he provides that their “modern, genre-blending sound helped form fashionable hip-hop, R&B, and pop music.”

“[Pharrell] Williams engaged in self-dealing, hid materials info, and … diverted revenues owed to plaintiff,” Brent J. Lehman, Hugo’s lawyer, alleges. “Such willful, fraudulent, and malicious conduct warrants the imposition of punitive damages.”

Pharrell’s authorized group has since issued a response to the lawsuit. According to them, “a typical accounting assessment is already in progress.”

“The lawsuit filed is untimely as there could not even be a dispute between the events,” their assertion continues, per USA Today. “If the accounting assessment determines that cash is owed, the suitable occasion can pay it. Pharrell has constantly acted in good religion. He has nice respect for Chad and appears ahead to resolving this in a manner that honors their shared historical past.”

News of Pharrell’s response to the go well with comes only a few days after it was introduced that he’ll be taking the stage at the 2026 Grammys alongside Clipse. He’s nominated for 3 awards. This is due to his contributions to the duo’s album Let God Sort Em Out and his LEGO-filled biopic Piece by Piece.