Music producer The-Dream has been accused of raping, physically abusing and manipulating his former protégé Chanaaz Mangroe.
A new lawsuit obtained by Page Six on June 4 shows Mangroe — who performed as Channii Monroe — claims The-Dream, born Terius Youngdell Nash, trafficked her under the guise of a legitimate recording and distribution contract.
She says she was subjected to an “abusive, violent, and manipulative relationship” filled with “physical assaults, violent sexual encounters and horrific psychological manipulation.”
Mangroe was working on an international visa in the U.S. from the Netherlands when she met The-Dream. She claims she was 23 years old when the singer’s associates reached out to her via social media in 2014.
After she sent samples of her work, she claims she was invited to join the producer and his partner Tricky Stewart, born Christopher Alan Stewart, in Atlanta.
“In both Atlanta and Los Angeles, Dream used his age and influence in the industry to manipulate the young artist into believing that she needed him to be successful and roped her into his world through false promises to gain Ms. Mangroe’s complete trust,” her lawsuit states.
Mangroe adds the Grammy winner vowed he would extend her working visa and “write blockbuster songs for her if she became part of his so-called ‘sanctuary,’ like he did for Beyoncé and Rihanna.”
She says he “controlled” all aspects of her life in the U.S. and “forced” her to drink excessive amounts of alcohol by roughly pulling her head back by her hair and pouring it down her throat.
Her lawsuit states The-Dream frequently strangled Mangroe during violent sex.
The lawsuit also states the producer refused to wear protection during their alleged sexual encounters and that he raped her “in the back of a renovated sprinter van, the same evening that he forced her to engage in sex acts in a public movie theatre.”
Mangroe’s suit includes screenshots of alleged texts from The-Dream, in which he asked to “undress” her emotionally so he can “know what’s underneath your heart.”
“These claims are untrue and defamatory. I oppose all forms of harassment and have always strived to help people realize their career goals,” The-Dream said in a statement to The New York Times that has denied the allegations.
“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,” he continued.
“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 told Page Six.
“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,” Mangroe stated.
The performer’s attorneys, Douglas H. Wigdor and Meredith Firetog, also told Page Six that The-Dream’s alleged actions are “another horrific example of how men in the music industry use their power and influence to manipulate and harm others.”
“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 lawyers continued, referencing the string of sexual assault lawsuits facing Sean “Diddy” Combs and his 2016 attack on his then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura, which was caught in hotel surveillance footage.
“While she will never fully recover from what he and those who supported him did to her, her willingness to speak out now is evidence of her extraordinary strength. We are honored to represent her,” the lawyers stated.
