By Jehoshaphat Kanyoro Njaro
Grammy-winning producer The-Dream, known for his work with Beyoncé and Rihanna, is facing a lawsuit filed by his former protégé Chanaaz Mangroe, who performed under the stage name Channii Monroe.
Mangroe alleges that The-Dream, whose legal name is Terius Gesteelde-Diamant, subjected her to sexual assault, physical abuse, and psychological manipulation after she moved from the Netherlands to the U.S. to pursue a music career.
The lawsuit, filed in a California federal court, also names The-Dream’s label Contra Paris, LLC, and Epic Records as defendants. Mangroe, now 33, claims she was introduced to The-Dream in 2014 at the age of 23. She states that representatives of The-Dream contacted her via social media, inviting her to Atlanta with promises of advancing her music career.
According to the lawsuit, Gesteelde-Diamant initially pledged to help Mangroe become the next Beyoncé or Rihanna and promised her career opportunities, including writing major songs and an opening slot on Beyoncé’s tour.
However, Mangroe alleges that the relationship quickly became abusive. She claims The-Dream exerted complete control over her life, tracking her location, and communicating with her incessantly.
The lawsuit details accusations of forced alcohol consumption, violent sexual encounters, and coercion into public sexual acts.Mangroe also alleges that The-Dream strangled her during sex, causing her to lose consciousness, and refused to use condoms,which ultimately forced her to hide her birth control pills.
She accuses him of berating her during sexual acts, filming these encounters, and using the footage as leverage. One incident described in the lawsuit includes a forcible rape on the same night he coerced her into performing sexual acts in a public movie theater.
Mangroe’s attorneys, Douglas H. Wigdor and Meredith Firetog of Wigdor LLP, highlighted the power dynamics at play in the music industry, comparing the case to other high-profile abuse allegations.
They emphasized Mangroe’s courage in speaking out and seeking justice. Mangroe is pursuing compensatory damages for lost income, emotional distress, punitive damages, and coverage of legal fees.
In a statement to the New York Times, The-Dream denied all allegations, calling them “untrue and defamatory.”
He asserted his opposition to harassment and expressed sadness over the accusations, emphasizing his commitment to helping artists achieve their goals.Mangroe’s decision to file the lawsuit was driven by her need to heal and prevent future abuse.
“Choosing to speak out about the trauma I survived has been one of the most difficult decisions of my life,” Mangroe said. “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.”
The case against The-Dream highlights ongoing issues of abuse and manipulation within the music industry, with Mangroe’s allegations adding to a growing list of similar cases against powerful men in entertainment.