The-Dream Facing Rape, Battery, and Sex Trafficking Allegations in New Lawsuit
The Grammy-winning singer and producer called the allegations "untrue and defamatory."
The-Dream is facing allegations of rape, sexual battery, and sex trafficking in a new lawsuit from a woman who says she’s speaking out to "prevent future horrific abuse." The eight-time Grammy winner, meanwhile, says the newly reported allegations are "untrue and defamatory."
As first reported by Ben Sisario for the New York Times, the suit, filed in Los Angeles on Tuesday, cites California’s Sexual Abuse and Cover-Up Accountability Act. The accuser, Chanaaz Mangroe, alleges that she was forced to have sex with the songwriter/producer on multiple occasions. Mangroe, who makes music under the name Channii Monroe, says she was first introduced to The-Dream in early 2015.
From there, Mangroe says that Dream promised to make her a star on the level of Beyoncé or Rihanna, though their relationship allegedly became abusive shortly after.
"Choosing to speak out about the trauma I survived has been one of the most difficult decisions of my life, but ultimately, 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 realized that I need to tell my story to heal. I hope that doing so will also help others and prevent future horrific abuse.'
Dream is specifically alleged to have held Mangroe down and refused to wear a condom, strangled her during "violent sex,' forced her to have sex on camera before threatening to reveal the video to others, forced her to engage in sex acts in a theater, and more. Mangroe further alleges that she once informed a higher-up at Epic Records (also named in her suit) but was treated dismissively. At the time, she says she was signed to Dream with distribution from Epic.
The full complaint, viewed by Complex, states that Mangroe has filed this suit as a way to "speak up for herself and other female artists who have been tormented by powerful and selfish men in the recording industry" while also pursuing "justice and accountability to prevent further horrific abuse like she experienced, and to regain her sense of self as an artist and as a woman."
Complex has reached out to reps for The-Dream for comment. In a statement provided to the Times, he denied Mangroe's allegations.
"These claims are untrue and defamatory," he said. "I oppose all forms of harassment and have always strived to help people realize their career goals. 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."
Pointed out amid Tuesday's coverage of the suit was that the lawyers representing Mangroe previously worked with Cassie on her ultimately settled suit against Diddy, as well as on a separate suit from a different Diddy accuser.
When reached for comment by Complex, Mangroe's lawyers, Douglas H. Wigdor and Meredith Firetog, shared the following statement:
This is yet another horrific example of how men in the music industry use their power and influence to manipulate and harm others. Dream, like Sean Combs did with Ms. Ventura and others, used his standing as a prominent recording artist and producer to subject Ms. Mangroe to vicious physical, psychological, and sexual abuse. While she will never fully recover from what he and those who supported him did to her, her willingness to speak out now is evidence of her extraordinary strength. We are honored to represent her.
Dream’s credits as a writer and producer include tracks with Beyoncé, Rihanna, Diddy, Jay-Z, Mariah Carey, Britney Spears, and numerous others. On Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter, released earlier this year, Dream was credited on 10 of the album's 27 tracks.
In 2015, an assault case against Dream in connection with allegations from former romantic partner Lydia Nam were dropped, with prosecutors saying at the time that the allegations could not be proven "beyond a reasonable doubt."
