Usher Hits Bryan-Michael Cox with Nearly $5 Million Lawsuit

Usher has filed a lawsuit against his longtime music producer Bryan-Michael Cox and several others over a loan connected to a restaurant in Atlanta that never opened. According to a court filing obtained by Billboard, the singer is seeking nearly $5 million in damages.

Usher claims that Cox, known for producing hits like U Got It Bad and Burn, approached him in 2024 to invest in a high-end Atlanta restaurant and lounge called Homage ATL. While Usher declined to become a full investor, he agreed to loan the group $1.7 million, which he wired in January.

Months later, when the restaurant property had not been purchased, Usher asked for his money back. He says he received $1 million in August but has not received the remaining $700,000.

Usher claims that lawyer Alcide Honoré told him returning the money was “not that easy” because the funds had been used for “other purposes”, though no explanation was given for what those purposes were.

Usher’s lawsuit targets Cox, Honoré, and business partners Keith Thomas and Charles Hughes. According to the filing, the funds were intended solely to purchase a property in Buckhead, but Usher alleges the money was diverted for other uses, leaving him at a financial loss. His attorneys wrote, “Plaintiff loaned [the money] for the sole purpose of purchasing the Buckhead property. The defendant investor group failed to purchase the Buckhead property and, instead, diverted the Raymond loan balance for [other] purposes.”

Cox responded on Instagram, stating that he is a “passive minority shareholder” in the project and claimed he had no role in the transaction. He added, “My 27-year friendship with @usher remains fully intact.”

The lawsuit accuses Cox, Thomas, and Hughes of breach of contract and unjust enrichment, while Honoré faces claims including breach of bailment, negligence, and breach of fiduciary duty.

According to Usher’s lawyers, Honoré allegedly admitted that the loan funds had been used elsewhere and said repayment would only occur once the property was purchased and refinanced.

Usher’s case says that discussions about the restaurant project started in 2024 and were meant to create a unique dining lounge experience. The singer opted not to become an investor but agreed to lend the money to secure the property, which was valued at more than $6 million. The deal never went through, and Usher says he has yet to recover the remaining funds.

This lawsuit highlights how complicated celebrity business deals can become when projects fail to launch. Usher’s legal team is clearly seeking full repayment and accountability from the parties involved.

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