Usher has filed a lawsuit against longtime collaborator and acclaimed producer Bryan-Michael Cox, claiming that a seven-figure loan tied to an Atlanta restaurant venture remains partially unpaid.
According to filings in Fulton County, the R&B icon alleges that what began as a straightforward business arrangement spiraled into a financial dispute after Cox and his partners—Keith Thomas, Charles Hughes, and attorney Alcide Honoré—approached him last year with plans to launch Homage ATL, a high-end restaurant and lounge in Buckhead. The proposed location, 3102 Piedmont Road, formerly housed Ocean Prime and was pitched as an upscale dining concept.
Though Usher declined to become an investor, he reportedly agreed to support the project through a $1.7 million loan, which he wired to a trust account in January.
However, court documents state that months went by without the property ever being secured. By summer, when the singer asked for his money back, only $1 million was returned. The remaining funds, according to the complaint, had been diverted.
One alleged admission from Honoré is central to the case:
“The funds had been used for other purposes, making repayment not that easy.”
Usher is now seeking $4.9 million in damages across seven legal claims, arguing that the misuse of the funds constitutes a breach of their agreement.
As of November 18, none of the defendants—Cox, Thomas, Hughes, or Honoré—has filed a response.
