Record producer The-Dream accused of sexual assault by ex-protégé

Successful record producer The-Dream was accused of sexual assault by his former protégé in a lawsuit.

The lawsuit, filed by Chanaaz Mangroe, who performed under the stage name Channii Monroe, alleges that The-Dream lured her into “an abusive, violent and manipulative relationship filled with physical assault, violent sexual encounters and horrific psychological manipulation.”

The Grammy-winning mega-producer, whose real name is Terius Gesteelde-Diamant, is best known for hits such as Rihanna’s “Umbrella” and Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies” and “Break My Soul.” He also releases his own music.

Mangroe, 33, claims a representative for the 46-year-old producer contacted her on social media in 2014 and asked her to send samples of her music. A year later, Gesteelde-Diamant flew her from her native Netherlands to Atlanta.

He allegedly told her he would make her the next Beyoncé and Rihanna, but demanded that she tell him intimate and embarrassing details of her life and give him complete control over her.

He then allegedly forced her to diet and exercise excessively, to consume drugs and alcohol, to rape her and to keep her in a locked room at times. Her contact with others was also restricted.

Mangroe also claims he disrupted her music career by forcing her to leave the record label she was previously signed to. This, along with the trauma and fear of her experience, led to financial loss, she claims.

The producer denied the allegations in a statement to the New York Times.

“I oppose any form of harassment and have always tried to help people achieve their career goals,” said Gesteelde-Diamant. “As someone who is committed to making a positive impact on my fellow artists and the world at large, I am deeply offended and saddened by these allegations.”

The lawsuit was filed in federal court in Los Angeles. His label Contra Paris, LLC and Epic Records are also named in the suit.

“What Dream did to me made it impossible to live the life I imagined and pursue my goals as a singer and songwriter,” Mangroe said in a statement. “Ultimately, my silence became too painful and I realized that in order to heal, I needed to tell my story.”

With News Wire Services