Pharrell Williams sued by former Neptunes partner Chad Hugo over alleged lost earnings

The Guardian - World NewsCenter-LeftEN 2 min read 100% complete by Laura SnapesJanuary 26, 2026 at 11:37 AM

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Chad Hugo is suing Pharrell Williams, his partner in the Neptunes and NERD, alleging Williams withheld royalties and income related to their 2017 NERD album, *No One Ever Really Dies*. Hugo claims Williams has denied him access to financial documents and estimates he is owed between $750,000 and $1 million. Hugo's lawyers accuse Williams of "self-dealing" and diverting revenues. This is the second lawsuit Hugo has filed against Williams, the first being in 2024 over control of the Neptunes trademark. Williams' representative stated a standard accounting review is underway and that he has acted in good faith, expressing hope for a resolution that respects their history.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Justin Timberlake 30% Beyoncé 30% Britney Spears 30% Billboard ×240% Kelis ×250% NERD ×270% The Neptunes ×580% Pharrell Williams ×990% Chad Hugo ×990%

Keywords

pharrell williams 100% the neptunes 90% chad hugo 90% lawsuit 90% royalties 80% nerd 70% earnings 70% financial disclosure 60% breach of contract 50% trademark 50%

Sentiment Analysis

Negative

Score: -0.40

Source Transparency

Source

The Guardian - World News

Political Lean

Center-Left (-0.40)

Far LeftCenterFar Right

Classification Confidence

90%

This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis. The political bias score ranges from -1 (far left) to +1 (far right).

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pharrell williams the neptunes chad hugo lawsuit royalties nerd earnings financial disclosure breach of contract trademark

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