Beyoncé producer The-Dream sued by former protégé for rape and sex trafficking

The-Dream — a Grammy-winning writer and producer on some of pop and RnB’s biggest hits — has been accused of sexual assault and other abuse, with his former protégé filing a lawsuit against him on Tuesday.

Chanaaz Mangroe, who performs under the stage name Channii Monroe, alleges that The-Dream, whose legal name is Terius Gesteelde-Diamant, 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. He denies the allegations.

Gesteelde-Diamant is an eight-time Grammy winner, who has written and produced huge hits, including Beyoncé’s Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It), Justin Bieber’s Baby and Rihanna’s Umbrella. 

He has contributed to Beyoncé’s recent albums, too, including the Renaissance track Break My Soul and more than 10 songs on the recently released Cowboy Carter. 

Mangroe, 33, says a representative of Gesteelde-Diamant reached out to her on social media in 2014 and asked her to send samples of her music. She says 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 Beyoncé and Rihanna”, but that she would have to share intimate and embarrassing details with him and allow him complete control over her. 

Though he was married, Mangroe says he told her they would become a famous couple who won 10 Grammys together.

Mangroe 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, and kept her locked in a room for long stretches. 

She says he was violently controlling, forcing her to diet and exercise, and he allowed her little contact with others.

“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.”

Mangroe’s lawyers, who also represented Cassie Ventura in her civil case against Sean “Diddy” Combs, compared the two lawsuits saying: “This is yet another horrific example of how men in the music industry use their power and influence to manipulate and harm others.”

Representatives of Gesteelde-Diamant told the The New York Times in a statement that the allegations were “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 up-ended 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 the Los Angeles Federal Court, seeks damages to be determined at trial.

SOURCE: ABCNEWS