Singer-songwriter Chanaaz Mangroe accused record producer The-Dream of sex trafficking, rape and sexual battery in a lawsuit filed in court Tuesday.
The documents allege that The-Dream, whose real name is Terius Gesteelde-Diamant, “used his age and influence” as a powerful figure in the music industry to “manipulate” the plaintiff who was in the United Stages on a O-1B “extraordinary ability” visa, according to CNN. The paperwork says that Mangroe was 23-years-old when The-Dream promised to help secure recording contracts for her, “like he did for Beyoncé and Rihanna.”
She alleged that instead, he subjected her to “violent sexual acts and vicious psychological torture,” according to CNN.
NEW YORK, NY – MAY 22: Singer-songwriter The-Dream poses for a portrait before attending his “The Art of IV Play”Exclusive Listening Party on May 22, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/WireImage)
The complaint Mangroe filed accused The-Dream of taking advantage of her work visa status, noting that he “controlled all aspects” of her life. She accused the famous producer of committing multiple acts of sexual violence and claimed he filmed her while she performed sex acts and forced her to drink “excessive amounts of alcohol” by pouring it down her throat, according to CNN.
The lawsuit references an alleged incident in which Mangroe said The-Dream raped her in a van, “the same evening that he forced her to engage in sex acts in a public movie theater.” The complaint says he allegedly “lured” her “into an abusive, violent, and manipulative relationship filled with physical assaults, violent sexual encounters, and horrific psychological manipulation,” according to CNN.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 05: (L-R) Rich Paul, Steve Stoute, Jay-Z, Juan “OG” Perez and The-Dream attend the 65th GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena on February 05, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
“Choosing to speak out about the trauma I survived has been one of the most difficult decisions of my life,” Mangroe said in a Tuesday statement issued to CNN. “Ultimately, my silence has become too painful, and I realized that I need to tell my story to heal. I hope that doing so will also help others and prevent future horrific abuse.”
Douglas H. Wigdor and Meredith A. Firetog are representing Mangroe. The pair are also representing Cassie Ventura in her sexual assault case against Sean “Diddy” Combs.
“This is yet another horrific example of how men in the music industry use their power and influence to manipulate and harm others,” Wigdor and Firetog told CNN.
NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 01: The-Dream performs at Meet the Musician at Apple Store Soho on June 1, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by John Lamparski/WireImage)
Mangroe is seeking unspecified damages and requested a jury trial.
The-Dream denied all allegations made against him in a statement his representatives issued.
“These claims are untrue and defamatory,” the statement reads, according to The New York Times. “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.” (RELATED: Diddy’s Ex-Girlfriend And Alleged Assault Victim, Cassie Ventura, Breaks Her Silence)
The Dream is a Grammy-winning artist known for writing big hits like “Umbrella” by Rihanna, “Baby” by Justin Bieber and “Touch My Body” by Mariah Carey.
He also has some hits of his own that have hit the charts, including “Throw It In The Bag,” “I Luv Your Girl” and “Rockin’ That Thang.”
He also worked with Beyonce and acted as the executive vice president of A&R at Def Jam Records before launching his own label, Contra Paris, in 2014.
