The-Dream sued by former protégé for alleged rape, sex trafficking and assault

A lawsuit filed against the singer-producer by Chanaaz Mangroe accuses him of luring her into an “abusive, violent and manipulative relationship.”

• The-Dream faces abuse allegations in lawsuit filed by former protégé

• Chanaaz Mangroe alleges singer and producer lured her into recording and distribution deal

• Their relationship then became “abusive, violent and manipulative”.

The-Dream is accused of rape, sexual assault, trafficking and other abuse allegations in a federal lawsuit filed by his former protégé Chanaaz Mangroe on Tuesday, June 4.

According to court documents obtained by PEOPLE, the singer/songwriter/producer (real name Terius Gesteelde-Diamant), 46, is being sued over allegations that he lured Mangroe, 33, into a recording contract and distribution which, according to her, would have led the era to 23 years. “vulnerable artist in an abusive, violent and manipulative relationship” in 2015.

The lawsuit, filed in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, claims Mangroe's experience with The-Dream lasted more than a year and was “nothing short of a nightmare prolonged “.

The filing alleges that the “Falsetto” singer used his age and influence in the music industry to make “false promises” to Dutch-born Mangroe in hopes of gaining her “complete trust.” He allegedly did this by sponsoring the extension of her international visa, offering her “high visions” of contracts with major labels, guaranteeing her hit songs if she became part of his “sanctuary” as with his collaborators Rihanna and Beyoncé and also promising him a first place on the latter's next tour, according to the complaint.

In reality, the lawsuit claims that Mangroe was used to satisfy The-Dream's own desires, which allegedly “manifested themselves in violent sexual acts and vicious psychological torture.”

On one occasion, the court filing alleges, the music producer locked Mangroe in a dark room, “violently” had sex with her, left and returned to have sex again while demanding “that she told him she loved him.”

In another, he claims that The-Dream “once raped Ms. Mangroe in the back of a renovated sprinter van,” the same evening he “forced her to perform sexual acts in a gymnasium.” public cinema”. He also allegedly asked Mangroe to “engage in forced sexual acts in multiple jurisdictions” and recorded her during these acts in order to threaten to silence her.

Elsewhere, the lawsuit — which also accuses The-Dream's label, Contra Paris LLC, and Epic Records of facilitating his “depraved behavior” — alleges that the songwriter forced Mangroe to consume “excessive amounts of alcohol” while pouring it down her throat, “refused to wear a condom and regularly ejaculated inside” her and “frequently” strangled her during “rough sex” – once “so intensely that she lost almost knowledge.

Other accounts presented in the court filing claim that The-Dream controlled every aspect of Mangroe's stay in the United States – including where she lived and could go, who she spoke to and what she could eat – and “kept close track of its location every time.”

Related: The-Dream arrested for assault

Due to the producer's “heinous acts”, Mangroe's career was upended after his music was allegedly taken without explanation. The singer's lawsuit claims she never received compensation for her work, and that all attempts to revive her music career were “hijacked by Dream and those who support him.”

Representatives for The-Dream did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment.

In a statement shared with PEOPLE, Mangroe's attorneys, Douglas H. Wigdor and Meredith Firetog, said: “This is yet another horrific example of how men in the music industry use their power and influence to manipulate and harm others.”

The lawyers added: “Although she will never fully recover from what he and those who supported him did to her, her willingness to speak out now is proof of her extraordinary strength. We are honored to represent her.

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In his own statement, Mangroe said: “Choosing 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 me made it impossible to live the life I envisioned for myself and pursue my goals as a singer and songwriter.

“Ultimately, my silence became too painful and I realized I had to tell my story to heal,” she continued. “I hope this will also help others and prevent future horrific abuse.” »

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or visit rainn.org.

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