Grammy award-winning producer and songwriter The-Dream is facing serious allegations of rape and sexual battery in a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles.
The 47-year-old, born Terius Gesteelde-Diamant, was named as the defendant by former protégé Chanaaz Mangroe, who performed as Channii Monroe.
According to the lawsuit, Mr. Gesteelde-Diamant allegedly forced Ms. Mangroe to have sex, choked her, and filmed an intimate encounter, threatening to show it to others.
The lawsuit, a 60-page document reviewed by the BBC, claims Ms. Mangroe is seeking damages for lost wages, mental pain, anguish, and severe emotional distress.
Originally from the Netherlands, Ms. Mangroe sought to establish herself as a singer and songwriter in the US and alleges she first met Mr. Gesteelde-Diamant in January 2015.
She claims he subjected her to violent sexual encounters that left her bruised, forced her to drink excessive amounts of alcohol, and strangled her to the point of almost losing consciousness.
She also alleges he forced her into sexual acts in a movie theater and raped her in a renovated sprinter van.
Ms. Mangroe further claims Mr. Gesteelde-Diamant told her he would make her the next Beyoncé and Rihanna.
According to the lawsuit, he allegedly began pressuring her for sex within days of their initial meeting, claiming it was “part of the process.”
She alleges that he locked her in a dark room and would only stop aggressively having sex with her once she said she loved him.
In a statement provided by her legal team to the BBC, Ms. Mangroe said that deciding to speak out “has been one of the most difficult decisions of my life.”
She stated that Mr. Gesteelde-Diamant’s actions made it impossible for her to pursue her goals as a singer and songwriter, and that her silence had become too painful.
Mr. Gesteelde-Diamant, known for writing songs for artists such as Beyoncé, Rihanna, Justin Bieber, and Mariah Carey, has denied the allegations.
In a statement provided to the New York Times by his representative, he called the claims “untrue and defamatory” and stated his opposition to all forms of harassment.
Mr. Gesteelde-Diamant has won eight Grammy Awards and was nominated for Songwriter of the Year at the 65th Grammy Awards in February 2023.
