The-Dream is facing a rape accusation in a new lawsuit. Chanaaz Mangroe, a former protégée who performed under the stage name Channii Monroe, claims he used career promises to pressure her into an abusive relationship in 2015. The lawsuit details alleged instances of sexual assault, including forced sex, strangulation, and the threat of publicizing a video recording of one of their encounters. Mangroe also accuses him of sex trafficking.
In a statement to The New York Times, Mangroe said, “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. 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.” She filed the lawsuit in the U.S. District Court in Los Angeles.
Though the statute of limitations on the alleged crimes has passed, Mangroe is citing California’s Sexual Abuse and Cover-Up Accountability Act, which provides victims more time to bring sexual assault cases in civil court. The-Dream has yet to comment publicly on the lawsuit.
