In a statement to the New York Times, the rap star, Beats co-founder, and co-producer of Straight Outta Compton said, “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.”
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As the N.W.A. biopic Straight Outta Compton gained traction and grossed $60.2 million in domestic theaters, stories of N.W.A. founding member Dr. Dre's history of abuse against women resurfaced.
Leading up to the movie's release, some critics accused the filmmakers — including Dre himself, who served as one of the executive producers — of failing to depict his record of being violent against women.
Straight Outta Compton director F. Gary Gray has publicly defended the film, saying the production team opted to focus specifically on the group itself and less on tangential narratives.
R&B singer Theresa Murphy, music journalist Dee Barnes, and former girlfriend Michel'le all say Dre violently punched and beat them. Dre was charged with assault and battery for the 1991 attack on Barnes, although he plead "no contest," paying a fine and sentenced only to community service.
After more than two decades of evading allegations that he assaulted the women, Dre responded to the controversy in a statement sent to the New York Times:
"Twenty-five years ago I was a young man drinking too much and in over my head with no real structure in my life. However, none of this is an excuse for what I did. I've been married for 19 years and every day I'm working to be a better man for my family, seeking guidance along the way. I'm doing everything I can so I never resemble that man again."
Dre added, "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."
Dre has become a mogul since his N.W.A. days, having sold his music company Beats to Apple last year for $3 billion last year.
Apple sent the following statement regarding his apology to the New York Times:
"Dre has apologized for the mistakes he's made in the past and he's said that he's not the same person that he was 25 years ago. We believe his sincerity and after working with him for a year and a half, we have every reason to believe that he has changed."
BuzzFeed News has reached out to Dr. Dre's personal representative as well as his Apple representative for additional comment.
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