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Singer and songwriter The-Dream has issued a statement after being accused of rape and sexual battery in a recently filed lawsuit.
According to USA Today, the lawsuit against The-Dream was filed in California on Tuesday, June 4. The outlet notes that the singer’s real name is Terius Gesteelde-Diamant. Additionally, the suit was filed by a woman named Chanaaz Mangroe. The Guardian notes that Mangroe is also known by her stage name, Channii Monroe.
Mangroe is reportedly accusing the 46-year-old of rape, trafficking, and sexual battery. The woman alleges the songwriter “lured” her into an “abusive” relationship, which she also notes was “violent and manipulative.” Furthermore, Magroe reportedly referred to her experiences with The-Dream as “nothing short of a prolonged nightmare.”
According to the outlet, Mangroe and The-Dream reportedly began their relationship under the pretense that he would help her “pursue a recording and publishing contract.” At the time, Mangroe was 23 and reportedly seeking a deal with The-Dream’s record label and Epic Records.
“… Dream used Ms. Mangroe for his base desires, which manifested in violent sexual acts and vicious psychological torture,” the lawsuit asserts, per USA Today.
However, Mangroe asserts that their relationship included him “violently” having sex with her and forcing her to drink excessive amounts of alcohol. Additionally, Mangroe alleges The-Dream choked her until she almost lost consciousness on one occasion. Furthermore, the woman alleges the songwriter raped her in the back of a van, forced her to engage in sex acts in a public movie theater, and refused to wear a condom during their sexual dealings.
Mangroe also asserts that The-Dream recorded their sex acts and used the recordings “to threaten her into silence.”
USA Today reports that Mangroe’s musical career was ultimately upended, and she’s still dealing with the trauma ten years later.
“Choosing to speak out about the trauma I survived has been one of the most difficult decisions of my life, but ultimately, 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 exclusively told the outlet. “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.”
Social media users reacted to the allegations against The Dream in The Shade Room’s comment section.
“These claims are untrue and defamatory,” he stated. “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 allegations against The-Dream arrive over ten years after he was accused of assaulting and strangling his then-girlfriend, Lydia Nam, per PEOPLE. According to the outlet, Nam accused The Dream of committing the violent act against her on April 4, 2013, while she was reportedly pregnant with their child.
Although the singer-songwriter was charged with “assault, strangulation, reckless endangerment of a child, and harassment,” prosecutors reportedly dropped the case against him, per The Guardian.
Additionally, the allegations against The-Dream arrive behind bombshell allegations against another music industry veteran, Sean “Diddy” Combs. To date, Combs has been accused of acts such as sexual assault, harassment, rape, and sex trafficking in a plethora of civil lawsuits.
The allegations against the music mogul initially shocked fans after his ex-girlfriend, Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, accused him of the acts in November 2023.
As The Shade Room previously reported, Combs denied the allegations as “quick payday” attempts. However, in May, surveillance footage from a 2016 incident between the ex-couple proved Ventura’s allegations of Combs’ violence toward her.
Mangroe is now being represented by the same lawyers as Ventura, Douglas H. Wigdor, and Meredith Firetog. Additionally, the attorneys have likened the allegations against The-Dream to those against Diddy.
“This is yet another horrific example of how men in the music industry use their power and influence to manipulate and harm others,” the attorneys stated. “Dream, like Sean Combs did with Ms. Ventura and others, used his standing as a prominent recording artist and producer to subject Ms. Mangroe to vicious physical, psychological, and sexual abuse.”
The allegations against musical names don’t end there. In April, one of Combs’ sons, Christian, was accused of sexual assault, per The Shade Room. Then, as recently as June 3, reports surfaced of Kanye West, now known as Ye, being sued for sexual harassment.
