A former protege of Grammy-winning writer and producer The-Dream has accused him of sexual assault and other abuse.
Chanaaz Mangroe, who performed under the stage name Channii Monroe, filed a lawsuit against The-Dream, whose legal name is Terius Gesteelde-Diamant alleging he lured her into “an abusive, violent, and manipulative relationship filled with physical assaults, violent sexual encounters, and horrific psychological manipulation” after she left her native Netherlands for the US with hopes of making it big as a singer.
Gesteelde-Diamant, an eight-time Grammy winner who was a writer and producer on huge hits including Beyonce’s Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It), Justin Bieber’s Baby and Rihanna’s Umbrella, has denied the allegations.
The 33-year-old singer says a representative of Gesteelde-Diamant reached out to her on social media in 2014 asking her to send samples of her music and that the producer flew her to Atlanta early the next year promising to help her career.
According to the lawsuit, Gesteelde-Diamant began recording with her and “told her that he would make her the next Beyonce and Rihanna”, but that she would have to share intimate and embarrassing details with him and allow him complete control over her.
Although he was married, Mangroe says he told her they would become a famous couple who won 10 Grammys together.
The lawsuit alleges that over the course of more than a year, Gesteelde-Diamant pressured her and forced her to use drugs and alcohol excessively, had sex with her that was violent beyond her consent, raped her at times and kept her locked in a room for long stretches.
She says he was violently controlling, forcing her to diet and exercise, and allowed her little contact with others.
Representatives of Gesteelde-Diamant did not immediately reply to an email seeking comment, but he told The New York Times in a statement that the allegations “are untrue and defamatory”.
“I oppose all forms of harassment and have always strived to help people realise their career goals,” the statement said.
“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.”
Mangroe alleges in her suit that rather than helping her career, Gesteelde-Diamant upended it by forcing her to be dropped from a record deal she had signed.
She says the trauma caused her severe anxiety and depression, along with financial losses from the harm done to her career.
The lawsuit, which was filed in Los Angeles federal court, seeks damages to be determined at trial.
“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,” Mangroe said in a statement.
“Ultimately, my silence has become too painful, and I realised that I need to tell my story to heal.”
