The Grammy-winning artist opened up about their strained relationship following a lawsuit over the use of The Neptunes’ name.
Pharrell Williams and his long-time collaborator and childhood friend Chad Hugo are no longer on speaking terms after a recent legal conflict regarding The Neptunes’ trademark. In a candid interview with The Hollywood Reporter ahead of the release of his new LEGO-animated documentary Piece by Piece, Williams, 51, discussed the lawsuit that has strained their decades-long partnership.
“I always wish him the absolute best,” Williams said of Hugo, 50, when asked about the current status of their relationship. The pair, who met in seventh grade, found immense success as The Neptunes, producing iconic hits such as Snoop Dogg’s “Drop It Like It’s Hot,” Gwen Stefani’s “Hollaback Girl,” Nelly’s “Hot in Herre,” and Justin Timberlake’s “Rock Your Body” in the early 2000s. Their contributions to the music industry were recognized when they were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2022.
However, the longtime friends have found themselves at odds due to a trademark opposition filed by Hugo earlier this year. In March, Hugo’s attorneys claimed that Williams filed trademark applications for various ventures, including his band N.E.R.D. and his Miami-based Goodtime Hotel, without consulting his partner. According to Hugo’s legal team, Williams was fully aware that Hugo should have been listed as co-owner of The Neptunes’ trademark.
“Throughout their over 30-year history, [Hugo] and Williams agreed to, and in fact, have divided all assets,” said Hugo’s attorney, Kenneth D. Freundlich, in the court filing. “By ignoring and excluding [Hugo] from any and all applications filed for the mark ‘The Neptunes,’ applicant has committed fraud in securing the trademarks and acted in bad faith.”
When asked directly if he and Hugo are still in contact, Williams responded, “No. But I love him, and I always wish him the absolute best. I’m very grateful for our time together.”
Despite the tension between them, Hugo does make an appearance in Piece by Piece, lending his voice to his own animated character in the documentary. Directed by Morgan Neville, the film tells the story of Williams’ life and career through LEGO bricks. It also features appearances from other artists Williams has collaborated with, including Gwen Stefani, Kendrick Lamar, and JAY-Z.
Williams praised Neville’s vision for the project, saying, “I let Morgan deejay. I let him figure out what parts of the story he wanted to tell. He really shaped the direction of the storytelling.”
Piece by Piece was recently shown at the Toronto International Film Festival, where Williams admitted to feeling hesitant about including his wife, Helen Lasichanh, and their family in the film.
“I’m usually very private about my personal life,” he explained at the PEOPLE/Entertainment Weekly suite during the festival. “But this time, I decided to let Morgan take the lead. He saw something I didn’t, and I trusted him to tell the story.”
While Williams remains open about the challenges in his relationship with Hugo, he continues to express gratitude for their work together, reflecting on the legacy they’ve built through music.