The-Dream was accused of a series of disturbing allegations in a new lawsuit filed by former protégée Chanaaz Mangroe on Tuesday.
Mangroe, 33, claimed the singer-songwriter, 46, subjected her to ‘violent sexual acts and vicious psychological torture’ and accused him of sex trafficking.
In court documents obtained by People, the aspiring musician alleged The-Dream, born Terius Gesteelde-Diamant, lured her into a relationship with false promises of launching her music career.
She was age 23 at the time when, according to the filing, The-Dream led the ‘vulnerable artist into an abusive, violent and manipulative relationship’ in 2015.
The-Dream is best known for penning top hits for Beyoncé, Rihanna and Mariah Carey.
The-Dream was accused of a series of disturbing allegations in a new lawsuit filed by former protégée Chanaaz Mangroe; seen onstage at Roots Picnic on June 1, 2024
The-Dream denied the allegations to The New York Times, calling them ‘untrue and defamatory.’
He also told the outlet that he’s ‘deeply offended and saddened’ by Mangroe’s accusations.
‘These claims are untrue and defamatory,’ he said in a statement shared with the outlet from his representative.
‘I oppose all forms of harassment and have always strived to help people realize their career goals. As someone committed to making a positive impact on my fellow artists and the world at large, I am deeply offended and saddened by these accusations.’
The prolific songwriter was involved with making hits such as Rihanna’s Umbrella, Justin Bieber’s Baby and Mariah Carey’s Touch My Body.
The eight-time Grammy-winning songwriter also helped make Beyoncé’s Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It) and Break My Soul.
Having built a close bond with Beyoncé, The-Dream has also been credited on each of the 42-year-old superstar’s albums since 2008.
Mangroe, who performed under the stage name of Channii Monroe, filed the lawsuit in the U.S. District Court in Los Angeles.
On Tuesday, Mangroe, 33, claimed the singer-songwriter, 46, subjected her to ‘violent sexual acts and vicious psychological torture’ during their past relationship; seen with Christina Millian in July 2009
The aspiring musician alleged The-Dream, born Terius Gesteelde-Diamant, lured her into a relationship with false promises of launching her music career; seen at Beyoncé’s Renaissance concert film premiere in November 2023
In the filing, she claimed he ‘told her that he would make her the next Beyoncé and Rihanna’ with promises to promote her music career.
However, he allegedly entrapped her in an abusive relationship, during which she said he repeatedly raped her and strangled her.
She also claimed she was a victim of revenge porn as he once filmed a intimate encounter and threatened to send it to other people.
According to her complaint, The-Dream reached out to her in late 2014 and asked her to send him her music.
In January 2015, Mangroe traveled to meet him in Atlanta, where he took her to a strip club and began recording with her.
In her lawsuit, she claimed that he quickly began to pressure her into sex and told her it was ‘part of the process.’
She also alleged that at one point, he brought her to a house with a studio, locked her in a dark room and ‘would only stop aggressively having sex with her once she said that she loved him.’
Mangroe also shared a statement with The New York Times and said she has been unable to pursue her dream of becoming a musician due to his alleged abuse.
‘What Dream did to me made it impossible to live the life I envisioned for myself and pursue my goals as a singer and songwriter,’ she said.
‘Ultimately, my silence has become too painful, and I realized that I need to tell my story to heal,’ she continued in the statement. ‘I hope that doing so will also help others and prevent future horrific abuse.’
The-Dream was also previously accused of violence against women. In 2014, he was charged with assault after a former girlfriend, who was eight months pregnant at the time, alleged he kicked, punched and choked her.
The following year, the case was dropped.
Mangroe is being represented by the same lawyers who represented Casandra ‘Cassie’ Ventura when she sued Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs in November 2023.
The lawsuit, which detailed harrowing recollections of abuse as seen in the recently reemerged footage of the embattled rapper violently attacking her in a hotel hallway, was settled just one day after filing.
Mangroe’s lawyers also released a statement to The New York Times.
‘This is yet another horrific example of how men in the music industry use their power and influence to manipulate and harm others.’
; seen in December 2023
She was age 23 at the time when, according to the filing, The-Dream led the ‘ vulnerable artist into an abusive, violent and manipulative relationship’ in 2015; Rich Paul, Steve Stoute, Jay-Z, Juan ‘OG’ Perez and The-Dream seen from left to right at the Grammys in February 2023
