Producer The-Dream is accused of raping, abusing and manipulating his former protégé Chanaaz Mangroe

June 4, 2024

Music producer The-Dream is accused of raping, physically abusing and manipulating his former protégé Chanaaz Mangroe.

Music producer The-Dream is accused of raping, physically abusing and manipulating his former protégé Chanaaz Mangroe.

According to a new lawsuit obtained by Page Six on Tuesday (April 24, 2006), 33-year-old Chanaaz – who performed under the name Channii Monroe – claims that the 46-year-old musician, whose real name is Terius Youngdell Nash, trafficked her under the guise of a legitimate recording and distribution deal.

She says she was subjected to an “abusive, violent and manipulative relationship” that was characterized by “physical attacks, violent sexual encounters and horrific psychological manipulation.”

Chanaaz was working in the US on an international visa from the Netherlands when she met The-Dream and claims she was 23 years old when acquaintances of the singer contacted her via social media in 2014.

After sending samples of her work, she says she was invited to join the producer and his partner of 50 years, Tricky Stewart (born Christopher Alan Stewart), in Atlanta.

Their lawsuit states: “In both Atlanta and Los Angeles, Dream used his age and influence in the industry to manipulate the young artist into believing she needed him to succeed. And he lured her into his world with false promises in order to gain Ms. Mangroe’s full trust.”

Chanaaz adds that Grammy winner The-Dream vowed he would extend her work 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 United States and “forced” her to consume excessive amounts of alcohol by roughly pulling her head back by her hair and pouring alcohol down her throat.

Her lawsuit alleges that The-Dream frequently strangled Ms. Mangroe during violent sex.

The lawsuit also alleges that the producer refused to wear contraception during the alleged sexual encounters and “raped her in the back of a converted Sprinter van the same night he forced her to perform sexual acts in a public movie theater.”

Chanaaz’s lawsuit includes screenshots of alleged text messages from The-Dream in which he tells her to “strip her emotionally” so he “knows what’s going on in your heart.”

The-Dream has denied the allegations and said in a statement to the New York Times: “These claims are untrue and defamatory. I oppose any form of harassment and have always tried to help people achieve their career goals.”

“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.”

Chanaaz told Page Six: “Deciding to speak out about the trauma I survived was one of the hardest decisions of my life, but ultimately, what Dream did to me made it impossible to live the life I envisioned and pursue my goals as a singer and songwriter.

“Eventually, my silence became too painful and I realized that I needed to tell my story in order to heal. I hope that by doing so, I can also help others and prevent future horrific abuse.”

The artist’s attorneys, Douglas H. Wigdor and Meredith Firetog, also told Page Six that The-Dream’s alleged actions were “another horrific example of how men in the music industry abuse their power and influence to manipulate and harm others.”

Referring to the series of sexual assault lawsuits facing 54-year-old Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs – and the rapper’s 2016 attack on his then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura, 37, which was captured on hotel surveillance video – the lawyers added: “Dream, like Sean Combs did with Ms. Ventura and others, exploited his position as a well-known musician and producer to subject Ms. Mangroe to vicious physical, psychological and sexual abuse,” the lawyers continued.

“Even though she will never fully recover from what he and his supporters did to her, her willingness to talk about it now is a testament to her extraordinary strength.

“It is an honor for us to represent you.”