Singer and producer The-Dream, whose real name is Terius Gesteelde-Diamant, faces serious accusations in a lawsuit filed by his former protégée, Chanaaz Mangroe. According to NBC News, the allegations include rape, sexual battery, and sex trafficking. The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.

Mangroe, a Dutch national, was working in the United States on an international visa when she met The-Dream in 2015 at the age of 23. She claims that she was lured into an abusive, violent, and manipulative relationship with promises of a successful music career. According to the lawsuit, The-Dream assured her he would sponsor her visa extension and produce hit songs for her, but these promises never materialized.

The details of the lawsuit, as reported by CNN, paint a harrowing picture. Mangroe alleges that she was subjected to physical assaults, violent sexual encounters, and psychological manipulation. She claims that The-Dream controlled her movements by tracking her location and keeping a key to her hotel room. He allegedly forced her to drink excessive amounts of alcohol and recorded a sexual encounter, threatening to share the video with others if she did not comply.

One particularly shocking incident described in the lawsuit occurred at a movie theater, where The-Dream allegedly forced Mangroe to have sex with him while another man watched. This was followed by an incident in which he raped her in the back of a van, as detailed by NBC News. Mangroe was signed to The-Dream’s record label, Contra Paris LLC, in 2015 but was dropped just a year later in 2016.

Throughout this period, Mangroe felt trapped and manipulated. She claims that her silence became too painful to bear, prompting her to come forward with her story to heal and help prevent future abuse. Her attorneys, Douglas H. Wigdor and Meredith Firetog, noted that the lawsuit is another example of men in the music industry using their power to manipulate and harm others. Notably, Wigdor and Firetog also represented singer Cassie Ventura in her lawsuit accusing Sean “Diddy” Combs of rape and abuse, as reported by CNN.

The response from The-Dream has been one of outright denial. According to CNN, he called the allegations untrue and defamatory. The lawsuit's nature and the significant public figures involved have attracted widespread attention, highlighting ongoing issues of power dynamics and abuse within the music industry.

For her part, Mangroe has asked for a jury trial and is seeking unspecified damages. She hopes that by telling her story, she can bring awareness to the abuses she endured and potentially prevent similar situations from happening to others.

The lawsuit against The-Dream is a testament to the courage required to stand against well-known figures in the entertainment industry. It sheds light on the darker side of a business often glorified for its glamour and success. Whether or not the allegations will hold up in court remains to be seen, but the case certainly adds to the growing discourse on abuse and power imbalances in the industry.