The-Dream accused of sexual assault and sex trafficking

He is the latest to be charged with sex crimes.

The Dream, whose real name is Terius Gesteelde-Diamant, is the latest star to be accused of sexual misconduct. In addition to writing and producing hits for Beyoncé and Rihanna, he also had his own solo career with singles like “Shawty Is a 10” and “Throw It In the Bag.” He was formerly married to singers Christina Milian and Nivea, with whom he shares children.

His former protégé, a woman named Chanaaz Mangroe, who performed under the moniker Channii Monroe, claims in her lawsuit that in 2015 he used a potential career in the industry to lure her into an abusive relationship in which he repeatedly forced her to have sex with. , strangled her and once recorded a video of an intimate encounter, according to The New York Times.

The Dream is also accused of sex trafficking. The lawsuit was filed under the Sexual Abuse and Cover-Up Accountability Act, a California law that allows people to file charges of sexual assault even though the statute of limitations has expired.

“What Dream did to me prevented me from living the life I envisioned and pursuing my goals as a singer and songwriter,” she said in a statement. “Ultimately, my silence became too painful and I realized I needed to tell my story to heal. I hope it will also help others and prevent future horrific abuse.”

The Dream denies the accusations. “These claims are false and defamatory,” he said in the statement. “I oppose all forms of harassment and have always strived to help people achieve their career goals. As someone committed to having a positive impact on my fellow artists and the world at large, I am deeply offended and saddened by these accusations.”

Born in the Netherlands, she was working in the United States in late 2014 when she was asked to send samples of her music to The Dream. In January 2015, she said she flew to Atlanta to meet The Dream. They went to a strip club where he allegedly began recording her and “told her he would make her the next Beyoncé and she says a few days later she was forced to have had sex with him, and he told her it was “part of the process.” In a house with a studio where they worked, she accused him of locking her in a dark room and “wouldn't stop have aggressive sex with her until she told him she loved him.”

She says the forced sex continued. At one point, she says he promised her he would make her the opening act on Beyoncé's next tour.

Over time, she claims The Dream began controlling her every move, with his security staff monitoring her movements and forcing her to check in with him at all times. She even claimed that the hotel she was staying in was infested with bedbugs. When she complained, she said she was being called a “brat.”

She also alleges that he kept her high on drugs and alcohol and threatened to show others their recorded sexual encounters. During the encounters, she said there were times when The Dream would often place a gun next to her, which she considered a threat.

She lists several other forced encounters, including oral sex and penetration in a movie theater. Eventually, she says she signed to his label, Contra Paris, and he struck a distribution deal for her with Epic Records, a major label owned by Sony. But after the continued abuse, she said she wanted out. Instead, she says she was forced to back down by her leaders.

This is not the first time that a woman has filed a complaint of abuse. In 2014, he was charged with assault following allegations he kicked, punched and choked a former girlfriend who was eight months pregnant. The charges were dropped the following year.