Beyoncé Hitmaker The-Dream Accused of Rape in Sensational Lawsuit: ‘A Long-Term Nightmare’

The-Dream, a singer-songwriter who has collaborated with artists such as Beyoncé and Rihanna, faces a sensational lawsuit accusing him of rape, human trafficking and other crimes.

Chanaaz Mangroe alleges that the Grammy winner, whose real name is Terius Gesteelde-Diamant, “lured” her into an “abuse, violence, and manipulation” relationship that “was nothing short of an extended nightmare,” according to a complaint filed in California and obtained by USA TODAY on Tuesday.

Mangroe claims her work with The-Dream was “rife with physical assaults, violent sexual encounters, and horrific psychological manipulation” in the guise of helping her secure a recording and publishing deal with his record label Contra Paris LLC and Epic Records, who are accused of facilitating his “depraved behavior.”

USA TODAY has reached out to representatives for The-Dream, Contra Paris and Epic Records for comment.

The-Dream denies the accusations, saying they are “untrue and defamatory”

Gesteelde-Diamant denied the allegations in a statement to The New York Times.

“These claims are false and defamatory,” he said. “I oppose all forms of harassment and have always tried to help people achieve 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.”

Mangroe accuses Gesteelde-Diamant of locking her in a dark room and “violently having sex with her” before leaving her “alone, naked, in the dark, for hours”; forcing her to drink massive amounts of alcohol by “brutally” pulling her head back by the hair and pouring alcohol down her throat; choking her until she nearly lost consciousness; refusing to put on a condom during sex and ejaculating inside her against her will; raping her in a van; and forcing her to have sex in a public cinema.

He also claims that he recorded her having sex and used the recording to force her to remain silent.

Terius Gesteelde-Diamant accused of ‘brutal psychological torture’ and rape

The lawsuit said Mangroe was contacted by Gesteelde-Diamant associates in 2014, when she was 23 and looking for her big break as a singer while working in the United States on an international visa from the Netherlands. After submitting samples of her work, Mangroe, also known as Channii Monroe, was invited to join Gesteelde-Diamant in Atlanta, according to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit claims that Gesteelde-Diamant made false promises to gain her trust, such as saying he would sponsor her visa extension and write “hit” songs for her, and claiming he would support Beyoncé on tour. “In reality, Dream exploited Ms. Mangroe to fulfill his baser desires, which included brutal sexual acts and severe psychological torture,” the lawsuit claims.

Additionally, the complaint alleged that Gesteelde-Diamant “controlled all aspects” of Mangroe’s stay in the U.S. and constantly followed her, demanding constant information from her about her location.

Gesteelde-Diamant is accused of manipulating Mangroe into believing she had to let him “totally control every aspect of her life” if she wanted to be as successful as Beyoncé, using her admiration for the “Texas Hold ‘Em” singer against her and claiming , that they will be “the next Bey and Jay.” The producer “combined business promises with brutal sex,” the lawsuit states, and Mangroe claims she became increasingly isolated from her family over time.

Gesteelde-Diamant allegedly regularly carried a gun and placed it next to Mangroe “as a warning” when he forced her to have sex. In one instance, he “intentionally slammed her face into the sink” in the bathroom after forcing her to have sex, according to the lawsuit, and allegedly raped her on the studio steps. During this alleged rape, Mangroe says Gesteelde-Diamant pulled the collar of her dress so tightly around her neck that she was “gasping for breath” and “she thought she wasn’t going to survive.”

But Mangroe eventually realized that Gesteelde-Diamant “never really wanted to produce her record” and the “dizzying whirlwind” he “put her through was a mirage” when she discovered Beyoncé wasn’t even preparing to tour, despite his promises that she opened for her, according to the complaint.

The lawsuit says that Mangroe’s “career was turned upside down by the ‘heinous acts’ of Gesteelde-Diamant, whose music was allegedly taken away from her ‘without any explanation.’ She says she hasn’t recovered from the trauma and is still putting her life back together almost 10 years later.

“Choosing to talk about the trauma I experienced was one of the hardest decisions of my life, but ultimately, what Dream did to me prevented me from living the life I imagined for myself and pursuing my goals as a singer-songwriter,” Mangroe said in a statement to USA TODAY. “Ultimately, my silence became too painful, and I realized I needed to tell my story in order to heal. I hope it helps others as well and prevents future horrific abuse.”

Attorneys Douglas H. Wigdor and Meredith Firetog represent Mangroe after working with Cassie Ventura, who sued Diddy last year for rape and sex trafficking in a lawsuit that has since been settled. In a statement, the attorneys compared Gesteelde-Diamant to Diddy.

“This is yet another horrific example of how men in the music industry use their power and influence to manipulate and harm others,” Wigdor and Firetog said. “Dream, like Sean Combs did with Ms. Ventura and others, used his position as a prominent recording artist and producer to subject Ms. Mangroe to cruel physical, psychological and sexual abuse.”

They added: “While she will never fully recover from what he did to her and those who supported him, her willingness to speak out now is a testament to her extraordinary strength. We are honored to represent her.”

Who is The-Dream?

Gesteelde-Diamant has written songs for such hits as Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)” and Rihanna’s “Umbrella.” He received eight Grammy Awards and 21 nominations.

Recorded under the moniker The-Dream, his 2007 album Love/Hate spawned numerous singles, including “Falsetto,” “Shawty Is A 10,” and “I Luv Your Girl.” More recently, he produced songs for Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Carter” and Usher’s “Coming Home,” and guested on the song “Cold Blooded.”

Gesteelde-Diamant has been married three times, including to singer Christina Milian, and has nine children. He was arrested on assault charges in 2014 after being accused of strangling his pregnant girlfriend, according to People magazine. The charges were later dropped.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: The Dream: Beyonce lyricist accused of rape by Chanaaz Mangroe