The-Dream Files Motion to Dismiss Sexual Assault Lawsuit

Singer-songwriter The-Dream, best known for his work with Beyoncé and Rihanna, has filed a motion to dismiss and strike significant portions of a sexual assault lawsuit that a woman named Chanaaz Mangroe filed against him in early June.

In court documents reviewed by Variety, legal representatives for The-Dream (real name Terius Gesteelde-Diamant) are asking for numerous amendments to Mangroe’s complaint. His legal team seeks to strike the rape claim, as it’s not a separate civil cause of action under California law, as well as 300 paragraphs that are “irrelevant” or “intentionally out-of-context.” They also argue that Mangroe’s sex trafficking claims do not allege required elements including a “commercial sex act,” and want his label Contra Paris, LLC removed from the suit as its operations are in Delaware and therefore lack personal jurisdiction in California.

“The Complaint is a textbook example of a ‘shotgun pleading’ and must be dismissed in its entirety for failing to attribute specific factual allegations to each defendant,” said The-Dream’s attorney Desirée F. Moore in a statement. “Plaintiff’s Complaint contains dozens of allegations that are utterly irrelevant to her sexual battery and sex trafficking claims and are, instead, designed solely to smear Diamant’s name and reputation.”

The filing states that Mangroe and her counsel “are using the judicial system to propagate a false and defamatory narrative about Diamant, a highly-respected Black musician in the arts industry, 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.”

It accuses Mangroe’s counsel of manipulating the press and the legal system to force a settlement and insists that The-Dream has a long history of advocating for women and women’s causes. It also states that there was never non-consensual sex or abuse between them, denying Mangroe’s claims and asserting that Mangroe was the one who initiated a sexual relationship. After it mutually ended, Mangroe reportedly continued to pursue him.

Legal representatives for Mangroe did not respond to Variety‘s request for comment.

In The-Dream’s motion to dismiss, Moore claims that earlier this month, her firm requested a videoconference with Mangroe’s counsel to potentially resolve the matter. During the meeting, Moore states that Mangroe’s representatives simply dismissed their arguments by responding “we don’t agree,” but did acknowledge that rape is not a cognizable civil claim. Regardless, Moore says that they were unable to reach an agreement, leading to the filing.

Mangroe, also known as Channii Monroe, initially filed the suit on June 4, accusing The-Dream of sexual and physical assault. Now 33, she claims she was introduced to him in 2014 when she was 23 and working in the United States on an international visa from the Netherlands.

She stated that The-Dream reached out to her on social media and promised her a path to stardom, including writing hits for her and an opening slot on Beyoncé’s tour. But the relationship quickly soured, as she claims The-Dream controlled all aspects of her life in the United States, monitoring her location and texting her at all hours. Mangroe detailed abusive situations including violent sex, verbal abuse during sex and revenge porn.

“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,” said Mangroe in a statement at the time. “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.”