Dr. Dre Apologizes for His Violence Against Women

In what is possibly the first time he's ever concretely addressed allegations of violence against women, hip-hop mogul Dr. Dre issued an apology to "the women I've hurt" via the New York Times today. "Twenty-five years ago I was a young man drinking too much and in over my head with no real structure in my life," he said. "However, none of this is an excuse for what I did." Decades-old accusations from three women—hip-hop journalist Dee Barnes and musicians Michel'le and Tairrie B—that Dr. Dre abused them have been making headlines in the days surrounding the successful premiere of the NWA biopic he produced. The script for Straight Outta Compton originally included the assault of Barnes, but the director says he removed it with a lot of other "side stories," MTV reports.

The three women disagree with claims they're being "opportunistic" by talking about the abuse now, telling the Times that Dr. Dre had his chance to tell his story with Straight Outta Compton, and now they are telling their side. On Tuesday, Barnes published an essay about Dr. Dre slamming her into a wall in 1991, an attack that has left her with recurring pain. Meanwhile, Michel'le tells of "black eyes, a cracked rib, and scars" suffered at the hands of Dr. Dre, who is now 50. Dr. Dre, who has been dismissive of the incidents in the past, now says he regrets them and is working to be a better man. Apple, which recently bought Dr. Dre's company Beats for $3 billion, also issued a statement saying it believes his apology is sincere and that he's changed, MTV reports. (More Dr. Dre stories.)