Beyoncé's Collaborator The-Dream Slams Sexual Assault Lawsuit As Defamatory

The-Dream is fiercely defending himself against allegations of sexual assault made by singer Chanaaz Mangroe. The hitmaker is pushing back against the lawsuit, claiming it is a malicious attempt to damage his reputation.

The legal battle erupted just months after Mangroe filed a complaint accusing The-Dream, whose real name is Terius Gesteelde-Diamant, of sexual assault and emotional distress.

Although the lawsuit has sparked a media firestorm, The-Dream, who is known for his work with Beyoncé, has categorically denied the accusations. 

The renowned music producer vehemently denied sexual assault allegations brought against him by Mangroe. The-Dream's legal team demanded the dismissal of the lawsuit, asserting that the claims were entirely false and defamatory.

In the court filing, his attorney rejected the claims, emphasizing The-Dream's long-standing advocacy for women's rights. 

He emphasized the 46-year-old's history of advocating for women's rights and his numerous professional and personal relationships with strong women. The legal team argued:

"[The Dream] has a lengthy history of advocacy for women and women's causes, has personal and professional relationships with many strong and successful women, and supports women coming forward to share their stories of abuse. This is not that: [Chanaaz] is not, and never was, [The Dream's]victim – full stop."

According to documents obtained by In Touch, the songwriter's lawyer described his past relationship with Mangroe as a consensual, brief courtship between two adults. 

"There was never non-consensual sex between them; there was never sex exchanged for money or other commercial gain; and [The Dream] never abused [Chanaaz] in any way," the attorney added.

Refusing to back down, the music producer has escalated his legal battle against Mangroe and her legal team, Wigdor LLP, accusing them of orchestrating a malicious campaign to damage his reputation. 

In response to the singer's June filing,  The-Dream's legal team's court filing claims that Mangroe and her legal team "are using the judicial system to propagate a false and defamatory narrative about [The Dream], a highly- respected Black musician in the arts industry."

The statement implies that the lawsuit was "for their own financial gain and to his extreme detriment—and to the destruction of everything he has ever done as a musician and as a Black figure that the current and new art generations look up to." 

His lawyer further alleged that the law firm intentionally leaked the complaint to the media to generate sensational headlines before formally filing it, aiming to pressure the producer into a settlement.

The legal team added that the lawsuit's damage extends beyond the hitmaker's career, affecting his family.

Mangroe came forward with shocking allegations of violent sexual abuse and psychological manipulation. Her legal team claimed that The-Dream subjected her to "violent sexual acts and vicious psychological torture."

According to the lawsuit, Mangroe's attorney described one particularly harrowing incident in which "Dream locked [Chanaaz] in a dark room adjacent to a recording studio, violently having sex with her and then leaving her alone, naked in the dark, for hours on end, returning to again have sex with her and demand that she tell him she loved him." 

The allegations go further, with Mangroe accusing the father-of-nine of controlling every aspect of her stay in the U.S. Some other situations were forcing her to drink alcohol by pulling her hair and pouring it down her throat, and engaging in violent sexual acts, including frequent strangulation and rape.

She also claimed that he refused to wear protection during sex and berated her during the encounters.

Apart from the serious claims in the lawsuit, the music mogul also faced severe allegations of human trafficking. 

The Blast reported that the lawsuit filed in June by Mangroe in a California federal court paints a harrowing picture of abuse and exploitation. 

The legal action also accuses Epic Records and Contra Paris, LLC of enabling these acts, implicating them in the alleged sex trafficking under the guise of business dealings. 

Mangroe claims she was lured into a purported music career deal that quickly transformed into a nightmare. 

Mangroe claims that her relationship with music producer The-Dream began under false pretenses, ultimately leading to manipulation and abuse. 

According to legal documents, the 32-year-old claims she was just 23 when she was approached by associates of The-Dream in 2014 while working in the U.S. on an international visa.

Hoping for her big break in the music industry, Mangroe eagerly submitted samples of her work and was soon invited to meet The-Dream and his production partner, Tricky Stewart, in Atlanta. 

What began as an exciting opportunity quickly turned into something far darker, according to Mangroe’s claims. She alleges that The-Dream used his age and influence to manipulate her into a toxic relationship, convincing her that she needed him for success in the industry.

As the legal battle unfolds, the producer remains focused on clearing his name while continuing his work in the music industry.