A new lawsuit accuses music producer The-Dream of sexual assault on a woman.
In a recent lawsuit, singer-songwriter Chanaaz Mangroe accused Dutch music producer Gesteelde-Diamant of using his age and position in the music industry to manipulate and control her. She alleged that he convinced her to come to the United States on an O-1B "extraordinary ability" visa, where he subjected her to physical and sexual abuse, violent encounters, and horrific psychological manipulation.
The complaint obtained by CNN detailed an incident where Gesteelde-Diamant allegedly raped Mangroe in a van after forcing her to perform sexual acts in a public movie theater the same evening. Mangroe is seeking a jury trial and unspecified damages.
In response, Gesteelde-Diamant's representatives denied the charges in a statement sent to the New York Times: "These claims are untrue and defamatory. I oppose all forms of harassment and have always strived to help people realize 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, in a statement obtained by CNN, revealed her reason for speaking out. "Choosing to speak out about the trauma I survived has been one of the most difficult decisions of my life, but ultimately, what Dream did to me made it impossible to live the life I envisioned for myself and pursue my goals as a singer and songwriter," she said. "Ultimately, my silence has become too painful, and I realized that I need to tell my story to heal. I hope that doing so will also help others and prevent future horrific abuse."
The lawsuit described Mangroe's encounter with Gesteelde-Diamant in 2015 when his team showed interest in signing her as an artist. Mangroe, then 23, claimed that he promised to help secure recording and publishing deals for her and write songs for her, citing his work with artists like Beyoncé and Rihanna. Instead, she alleged, he subjected her to violent sexual acts, psychological torture, and alcohol addiction.
The complaint also alleged that Gesteelde-Diamant controlled all aspects of her life while she was in the US on a work visa. In addition, he was accused of filming her during sexual encounters and forcing her to drink "excessive amounts of alcohol."
Attorneys Douglas H. Wigdor and Meredith A. Firetog, who also represent Cassie Ventura in her lawsuit against Sean "Diddy" Combs, asserted, "This is yet another horrific example of how men in the music industry use their power and influence to manipulate and harm others. While she will never fully recover from what he and those who supported him did to her, her willingness to speak out now is evidence of her extraordinary strength."
Gesteelde-Diamant is known for penning songs like "Umbrella" by Rihanna, "Baby" by Justin Bieber, and "Touch My Body" by Mariah Carey. He has also written tunes for Beyoncé, including "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" and "Partition." In 2012, he was appointed the executive vice president of A&R at Def Jam Records before leaving in 2014 to establish his own label, Contra Paris.
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Despite the ongoing legal battles in the music industry, many artists continue to seek opportunities for growth and success. In this context, some fans might find entertainment in following the developments of these high-profile lawsuits as a form of armchair activism or celebrity gossip.
Unfortunately, incidents like these highlight the need for stricter policies and education within the entertainment industry to protect vulnerable artists from experiencing such traumatic experiences.
