The Lifetime Network is set to premiere Surviving Compton: Dre, Suge & Michel’le, a Sony Pictures production a biopic based on the life and career of Michel’le. But according to some reports, Dr. Dre is threatening to sue over his depiction.
Dre started dating Michel’le early on in both of their careers and they maintained a tumultuous relationship for several years. Dre is also the father of Michel’le’s adult son.
A teaser for the upcoming Lifetime film shows a young Dre (played by Curtis Hamilton) threatening Michel’le (played by Rhyon Nicole Brown) during an unsatisfying recording session.
“You sing it like you feel, or Imma kick your ass,” he says.
Though Michel’le has always been candid about the abuse that she suffered at the hands of Dr. Dre, the rapper and media mogul is apparently taking issue with his portrayal in Surviving Compton.
Last year, in an interview with VladTV, Michel’le recounted the time that Dr. Dre shot at her. The clip was posted to YouTube just days after the premiere of Straight Outta Compton. In another clip from the interview, Michel’le expressed relief that she had been left out of the film. When the interviewer asked her about it, she had this to say:
“Why would Dre put me in it? I was just a quiet girlfriend who got beat on and told to sit down and shut up. My part has no value to, probably, what they really want to talk about — unless they want to talk.”
According to TMZ, Dr. Dre’s legal team sent a cease and desist letter to Sony Pictures, Surviving Compton not be released and threatening to sue if Lifetime went ahead with the planned premiere.
According to the letter, Dre flatly denies ever abusing Michel’le. It makes reference to the fact that they dated around 30 years ago and she never hinted at abuse or any type of violent behavior on his part. They also say she never sought medical treatment or filed a police report.
Dre’s attorneys also reached out to Michel’le.
When news of Surviving Compton first broke, Suge Knight reportedly sent Michel’le a sternly worded letter, requesting that she not defame him. Michel’le had described their relationship as being controlling “in every way” in the past.
So far, there’s no word from Sony or Lifetime on whether or not either Dr. Dre’s or Suge Knight’s objection will affect the film’s premiere.
Surviving Compton: Dre, Suge & Michel’le premieres on Lifetime on Saturday, October 15th at 8/7c.