Both Dr. Dre and Apple have now apologized for numerous incidents in which Dr. Dre brutally beat up women. In at least two cases, those women still suffer serious injuries more than two decades later, with subsequent bullying by Dre limiting career growth and options.
Those incidents, though numerous, were entirely omitted from the recently-released film, Straight Outta Compton. Apple had previously refused to respond to the matter, despite numerous requests for comment.
The following statement was issued by Dr. Dre to the New York Times this morning:
“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.”
“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.”
In addition, Apple, now an employer and partner of Dre’s through the acquisition of Beats, issued the following statement:
“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.”
Yes Paul, you were right and we were wrong.
I loved Dre’s stuff, but Apple needs to get rid of him asap — these apologies are beyond lame and just make it worse.
He needs to make an monetary amends. How about $10m to a domestic violence fund. How about $1m to each of the women he beat? Talk is cheap. He’s a billionaire. There are 1,000 millions in a Billion. Write a check dude.
I mean, I drank a lot in my 20’s and never beat up a bunch of women.
Has Dre ever, you know, actually apologized to the women he beat up? He certainly doesn’t seem very contrite towards his actual victims in these statements, just sad that it happened and is part of the public record.
What a complete coward. They’re only apologizing because the negative press wouldn’t stop, not because they care.
So Paul, can I ask you something? Now that you have written articles on this subject and others in the media I guessed picked up on it and you have gotten this apology out of him, do you feel different at all? Does this change anything one way or another. Is there a point of forgiveness or letting it go now? What else can he do at this point?
It’s not our place to forgive or not forgive. It is the right of the women he harmed to forgive him or not forgive him.
Apologizing to people who weren’t your victims, accepting forgiveness from people who weren’t your victims … that’s easy, and it is cowardly.
If his apologies were sincere, he’d making them to his victims and requesting that his victims forgive him.
“What else can he do at this point?”
1) Pay the victims.
2) Find another job, this won’t do — perhaps Donald Trump can use him?
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🙁 The real Anonymous 🙁
I’ll say I’m quite surprised, and I don’t this would have happened 10 years ago. Information channels are extremely lubricated in 2015, it’s difficult to bury and hide unflattering information. Stuff that would have been easier to bury in 2005 has now tarnished one of the richest people in the world, and one of the richest companies that employs him.
That said, I’m not sure there would have been any apology without the surge in media coverage, which makes me cynical about how genuine this is. Simply put, without DMN, Gawker and Reddit piling onto this, I don’t think Apple would have cared. Ask yourself, why did Tim Cook push forward so aggressively on this partnership, for nearly two years, given his pronounced commitment to equality, fairness, gay rights, philanthropy, and the human element that had been so lacking under Steve Jobs?
I constantly get emails from people yelling at us for our coverage against Dr. Dre. Somehow, underneath it all, there’s this notion that Dre should get a free pass because of his background, race, and the many inherent disadvantages he faced. Somehow, ‘white guilt’ says we should go easier on guys like Andre Young.
I’d argue that’s even more racist. If the ideal is total equality and a race-blind society, that means holding everyone to the same standards.
“DMN, Gawker and reddit”
One of these things is not like the others.
Three shining beacons of light of the Internet if there ever were any.
Don’t know about reddit, but certainly DMN and Gawker have celebrated tastelessly after notoriously public suicides.
And reddit is, well, reddit.
1 death, 1 suicide. Sorry.
I was as sloppy as Paul Resnikoff when he’s run out of adult diapers.
Wait, really? You honestly think DMN played a part in this in any significant way?
I blogged about Dr. Dre being abusive like nine years ago – so can I take credit for this too? I think I should.
I’m not sure who you are, but yeah, I’m guessing you played a role too. It was a snowball effect. And on DMN, you might want to check out our traffic.
And of course, there’s Kurt Loder, who reported on it on MTV’s “Week in Rock”.
When it happened.
Twenty years ago.
Paul, you’re no Brenda Starr.
I don’t see how hating on Paul for his journalism has any relevance to the music business. Except for the prevalence of haters. Everyone who has ever spoken about domestic violence can share the victory. We all read the news here and lurk the comments, so maybe we can celebrate the victory of the site we frequent.
Then again, my little comment here is just as much trolling as any other, so…..
None of those women would have experienced violence if they wouldn’t have acted up. According to rap, they probably deserved it.
rap could not be reached for comment and didn’t return our calls in time for publication.
Dre shouldn’t apologize to anyone for his past or who he is right now. Don’t let one billion USD influence the character of your authenticity . Fuck Apple computers and fuck those stink ass hymie town Jews : ‘ Straight Outta Brooklyn ‘ !
And don’t forget the good old-fashioned cracker:: May you find yourself inside the five star platinum service of the ‘ Beheaded ‘ . . .
Apple shouldn’t be standing by a woman-beater. What kind of man beats up a woman? (or anyone else for that matter)?
These thugs deserve to be buried in the 80s.
Dr. Dre was hardly a “thug” regardless of his recording persona. Don’t believe the hype.
Beating a woman makes him a “woman beater” and a punk ass along with all the others who do it in all walks of life from all races and backgrounds.
…and in case you didn’t know….
it’s not confined to the “80’s”
it’s a shame he waited for a deal with Apple and a lot of money behind to apologize.
Money resolves conscious case anytime, and gives some memory back in the right time.
BiGuP Apple you got the right deal, Beats Headphones are also the technical sting/fake of the century as well iPod.
Paul,
Why is it you took it upon your self to become the keyboard warrior and summoned up the internet lynch mob, to combat the evils of Dr. Dre, even though you have no stake in the game, and were not the one victimized 25 years ago?
Now, I guess thanks to you, Dre has acknowledged, apologized for, and fulfilled civil (settlement 25 years ago) and legal requirements for past offenses. So, I recon thanks are in order for that.
But even though he has kept his nose clean, and actually contributed to society for the last 25 years, you still want Apple to cut ties with a successful business partner, and you want Dre to sit in his room and think about what he did for the next 25 years.?
I’m sorry to say, Apple is in the business to make money, and Dre is going to continue to work hard and provide for his family.
Things to think about as you continually and unsuccessfully try to destroy his life.
When is it time to worry about the things of your life instead to morality of Dr. Dre and whether he has made enough penance or not?
Since the Grooveshark tragedy, Paul is drunk with “power”.
Great. Now maybe someday Paul will apologize for thinking a George Wallace-at-the-schoolhouse-doors graphic is an appropriate illustration of some piddly little tempest in a teapot the music business is swilling around in.
$$Writing For Dollars$$
DMN like all its other sensationalizing advertorial online shit disturbring brethren, considers itself ONE OF THEE pre-ordained journalistic judges and jury’s, under the guise of moral integrity, when in actuality they are really MERCHANTS EXPERIENTIAL MISERY….
Fortunately most of us have the wherewithal to recognize false-prophets when we READ, SEE or HEAR them.