The-Dream, a GRAMMY-winning producer behind hits like Beyonce‘s “Single Girls,” Kanye West‘s “No Church within the Wild” and Rihanna‘s “Umbrella,” has been accused of rape and assault by a former aspiring singer in a brand new lawsuit.
In line with courtroom paperwork obtained by ET, Chanaaz Mangroe (professionally generally known as Channii Monroe) claims The-Dream (actual title Terius Gesteelde-Diamant) promised he would assist her “turn out to be a part of his so-called ‘sanctuary,’ like he did for Beyonce and Rihanna,” however as an alternative subjected her to a “extended nightmare” that included rape and “horrific psychological manipulation.”
Within the lawsuit, filed Tuesday within the U.S. District Court docket’s Central District of California, Monroe claims that in 2014 she was 23 years outdated when she began working within the U.S. on a world visa from the Netherlands, hoping to land her huge break as a singer and songwriter. She claims The-Dream’s associates quickly reached out to her through social media and he or she despatched them samples of her work, which she says prompted an invite from The-Dream to go to him in Atlanta.
ET has reached out to The-Dream for remark, however in a press release supplied to The New York Occasions, a rep for the singer vehemently denied the accusations and asserted the “claims are unfaithful and defamatory.”
Within the lawsuit, Monroe claims that the “superb breakthrough alternative” was removed from what she imagined, and as an alternative her expertise with The-Dream “was nothing wanting a chronic nightmare.” She claims that “beneath the guise of pursuing a official recording and publishing contract” along with her, the “I Luv Your Lady” singer as an alternative “lured [her] … into an abusive, violent, and manipulative relationship crammed with bodily assaults, violent sexual encounters, and horrific psychological manipulation.”
Monroe claims The-Dream promised he would “sponsor the extension of her worldwide visa” and that he would “write blockbuster songs for her like he had finished for Beyonce and Rihanna.” What’s extra, Monroe claims The-Dream promised her “she would open for Beyonce’s upcoming tour, going so far as to drive [her] to eating regimen and train excessively to arrange for the tour.”
Monroe claims The-Dream as soon as locked her in a darkish room adjoining to a recording studio, violently having intercourse along with her after which leaving her alone — bare in the dead of night — for hours on finish, after which returning to have extra intercourse along with her. She additionally claims within the go well with The-Dream raped her as soon as at the back of a renovated sprinter van, the identical night that she says he pressured her to interact in intercourse acts in a public movie show.
As for her assault claims, Monroe alleges The-Dream violently assaulted her throughout intercourse, “typically along with his fingers, and as soon as utilizing the collar of her gown.” Monroe claims The-Dream as soon as choked her so intensely that she virtually misplaced consciousness.
There’s additionally allegations of The-Dream plying her with extreme quantities of alcohol “by pulling her head again by her hair and pouring alcohol down her throat.” Monroe claims The-Dream “managed all points of [her] keep in the USA, together with offering her housing, transportation, and meals bills.”
Monroe, who claims The-Dream recorded the sexual acts and used the existence of the recordings to threaten her into silence, claims that her profession was quickly upended, and that she nonetheless hasn’t recovered from the trauma she skilled.
“Almost a decade later, Ms. [Monroe] continues to be placing the items of her life again collectively, however she is aware of that with out talking up about what Dream did to her, she’s going to by no means be capable of heal from the hurt he has precipitated,” the courtroom paperwork state.
In a press release to ET, Monroe says, “Selecting to talk out concerning the trauma I survived has been some of the troublesome choices of my life, however in the end, what Dream did to me made it unimaginable to stay the life I envisioned for myself and pursue my targets as a singer and songwriter. In the end, my silence has turn out to be too painful, and I noticed that I want to inform my story to heal. I hope that doing so may even assist others and stop future horrific abuse.”
Monroe’s attorneys, Douglas H. Wigdor and Meredith Firetog, companions of Wigdor LLP, inform ET, “That is one more horrific instance of how males within the music trade use their energy and affect to govern and hurt others. Dream, like Sean Combs did with Ms. Ventura and others, used his standing as a outstanding recording artist and producer to topic Ms. Mangroe to vicious bodily, psychological, and sexual abuse.”
Wigdor and his agency additionally represented R&B singer Cassie Ventura in her lawsuit towards Sean “Diddy” Combs, which the events “amicably” settled lower than 24 hours later. The-Dream was additionally as soon as married to Christina Milian, who’s shut mates with Cassie.
The assertion continued, “Whereas she’s going to by no means totally get better from what he and those that supported him did to her, her willingness to talk out now could be proof of her extraordinary power. We’re honored to signify her.”
RELATED CONTENT: