LEFT: (Photo by Johnny Nunez/WireImage) RIGHT: (Photo by Christopher Polk/Billboard via Getty Images)
Usher is suing a group of investors and is looking to recover $700,000 of a $1.7 million loan. He gave the money to purchase a property for Homage ATL, a new restaurant and lounge in Atlanta. Bryan-Michael Cox says he’s a minority investor, but Usher is suing him, too.
In late 2024, three men approached Usher with their plan to open the restaurant and lounge. The plan involved the purchase of a commercial property in the city’s Buckhead neighborhood, according to the lawsuit. Usher declined to invest in Homage ATL, but he agreed to loan the group $1.7 million toward purchasing the property. Usher sent the money to the trust account of Atlanta lawyer Alcide Honor, who represented some of the investors. Honor is named as a defendant in the lawsuit.
After the deal never materialized, Usher requested that the group return his money. He was repaid $1 million in August, but communication then broke down. He has been unable to collect the remaining $700,000, the lawsuit states.
One of the defendants named in the lawsuit, Bryan-Michael Cox, said on Instagram that he is “a passive minority shareholder” in one of the companies involved. Also, Bryan-Michael said he’s learned to be selective about business partners, “No matter how small the investment.”
“I’m currently in the middle of a dailed deal that I didn’t orchestrate, and while the situation has been disappointing, I know my name will be cleared by both sides. It’s just unfortunate that this clarity didn’t come sooner.”
While he didn’t specify whether that was shade at any particular partner, he did clarify he’s still cool with the ‘Confessions’ superstar. For those who don’t know, Bryan-Michael Cox and Usher have made magic together for decades in the songwriter-singer space.
“While I’m unable to share more details right now, I want to make one thing absolutely clear: my 27-year friendship with Usher remains fully intact.”
Meanwhile, Alcide Honor on Wednesday referred questions to his attorney, Clifford Hardwick IV. Honor connection or history with Bryan-Michael Cox and Usher is unclear.
“I have no substantive comment regarding a matter that is in litigation,” Hardwick said in an email to The Associated Press. “However, I am extremely confident that Mr. Honor will be vindicated as to any civil liability in this case.”
As for the two other defendants, court records don’t list lawyers for the men from metro Atlanta.
Associated Press contributed to this report.
