Entertainment

Singer The Dream Accused Of Rape, Sexual Battery In New Lawsuit

Published

1 year ago

June 5, 2024

Editor

The-Dream, best known as a solo performer and for his work penning massive hits for Rihanna and Beyoncé, has been accused of sexual and physical assault in a new lawsuit filed by a woman named Chanaaz Mangroe, aka Channii Monroe.

The suit, filed in California federal court today, lays out accusations of abuse, violence and manipulation.

The complaint names The-Dream, whose real name is Terius Adamu Ya Gesteelde-Diamant, as well as his label Contra Paris, LLC and Epic Records.

In a statement to the New York Times, The-Dream denied the accusations. “These claims are untrue and defamatory,” he said.

“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, now 33, claims that she was introduced to The Dream in 2014 when she was 23, working in the United States on an international visa from the Netherlands. With aspirations of making it in the industry as a singer-songwriter, she states that associates of The Dream reached out via social media and invited her to join his musical partner Tricky Stewart in Atlanta.

According to the complaint, The Dream made promises of writing blockbuster songs for her, an opening slot on Beyoncé’s tour and sponsorship of an extension of her visa. From there, their relationship allegedly turned violent, as the suit goes into extensive detail about her allegations.

Mangrove says that The Dream controlled all aspects of her life in the United States, tracking her location and texting her at all hours to check on her whereabouts.

He allegedly forced her to drink copious amounts of alcohol, strangled her during violent sex to the point of losing consciousness, and refused to wear a condom during intercourse.

To the latter accusation, Mangroe states that she was forced to hide her birth control pills from him.

Among the claims, Mangroe also shares that he berated her during sex, which he supposedly filmed and used as leverage against her, and once forcibly raped her on the same evening he coerced her to perform sexual acts in a public movie theater.

Epic Records and Contra Paris are named in the lawsuit as The-Dream reportedly convinced them to fund Mangroe’s career without intending to support it.

“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.

“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.”

“This is yet another horrific example of how men in the music industry use their power and influence to manipulate and harm others,” says Mangroe’s attorneys Douglas H. Wigdor and Meredith Firetog, partners of Wigdor LLP, which also represented Cassie Ventura in her $30 million lawsuit against Sean “Diddy” Combs in November.

“Dream, like Sean Combs did with Ms. Ventura and others, used his standing as a prominent recording artist and producer to subject Ms. Mangroe to vicious physical, psychological, and sexual abuse. 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. We are honored to represent her.”

Mangroe is seeking compensatory damages connected to lost income from her experiences; a monetary judgment for her emotional distress; punitive and exemplary damages; and legal-related fees.

Related Topics:Commediam Singer The Dream

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Entertainment

Nollywood Actress, Mercy Aigbe, Loses Mother

Published

4 hours ago

September 24, 2025

Editor

Nollywood actress, Mercy Aigbe, on Tuesday announced the death of her mother.

The actress shared the sad news on Instagram with a candlelight image against a broken heart background, captioned: “R.I.P Mum.”

The announcement drew a wave of condolence messages from colleagues, fans, and friends in the entertainment industry.

Actress Iyabo Ojo wrote: “So sorry ore, may her gentle soul rest in perfect peace.”

Actress Dayo Amusa wrote, “My sincere condolences, Agbeke.”

Motilola also wrote: “So sorry, Momma. Accept my condolences.”

Actor Bolanle Ninalowo stated, “My condolences, sis.”

Other celebrities like Omowunmi Ajiboye and Tayo Faniran also sent in their sympathy messages, praying for the repose of her mother’s soul.

Entertainment

Why I Leaked, Circulated My 2021 Sex Tape —Tiwa Savage

Published

4 hours ago

September 24, 2025

Editor

Nigerian singer and songwriter, Tiwatope Savage, popularly known as Tiwa Savage, has revealed that her 2021 leaked sex tape was circulated as part of a bet, describing the experience as one of the most painful moments of her life. The Afrobeats star also disclosed that she has remained celibate for the past three years.

The revelation was made during an interview with The Breakfast Club, released on Tuesday, where she spoke candidly about how the scandal affected her personal life, career, and mental health.

“Savage said she initially coped with humour and by channelling the pain into her songs, but admitted the episode cut deeper.

“When I talked about the sex tape … that’s how I was able to kind of like, try and get through it. But in hindsight, did I really deal with it? I don’t think so. I was hurt… I was a victim,” she said.

She revealed that while her boyfriend at the time claimed the tape was leaked accidentally, she later learned it had been circulated as part of a bet.

“He said he was trying to save it, and then he pressed send by accident… I later on found out that it was a bet with his friends,” she said.

The singer added that many assumed she staged the leak for attention.

“They thought I did it for PR. A lot of people thought, ‘oh, she’s not relevant anymore, and she’s doing this.’ And I’m like, guys, trust me, if I wanted to do that, I would have had better lighting,” she said.

Attempts to pursue the case also failed because of the emotional toll.

“We tried, actually. But yeah, we couldn’t. And me trying was just, it was just too traumatic for me to keep talking about it. I just wanted to move on from it,” she explained.

Savage said the backlash from the public, including attacks on her role as a mother, was harder to bear than the tape itself.

“They brought my son into it and said I was unfit… my son’s gonna grow up and see this and he’s gonna be disappointed in his mom. That hurt me more than the actual thing,” she said.

She noted the experience has influenced her music, with some songs still too painful to perform.

“There were a lot of times I was crying, especially the first record. That took me like four attempts to record. Even now when I listen to the album, I skip that. I haven’t been able to perform it. It was tough,” she said.

Despite the trauma, she credited her family for their support.

“My mom called me and said, ‘don’t listen to them… I’m just happy that you’re enjoying yourself.’ Hearing my mom say that helped,” Savage added.

The singer also revealed she has been turning to therapy and has shifted how she views love and intimacy.

“For therapy, yeah, a lot of people say to me you’re wasting your money. I’m like, what? I love my son, I love my team, my friends. I’ve been married before, I’m 45, I’m good,” she said.

On her personal life, Savage admitted she has gone years without intimacy and doesn’t chase it outside of meaningful connections.

“I don’t know if I don’t come attached. I’ve gone like maybe three years without. I have to be with someone for me to even think about it. I don’t have toys… maybe that’s what people should get me for Christmas,” she joked.

Entertainment

BBNaija: I Will Never Go Back On Reality Show – Seyi Awolowo Vows

Published

3 days ago

September 21, 2025

Editor

Former Big Brother Naija housemate, Seyi Awolowo, has vowed never to return to the show if given the opportunity.

Featuring in a recent episode of the Old Secrets podcast, Awolowo lamented that he allowed himself to be bullied by “very low, insignificant and uneducated people” by accepting to be on the show and vowed not to allow that again.

He explained that if he could go back in time, he still wouldn’t change any of his actions in the house, stressing that he has already been chastised and have learned from his mistakes.

He, however, lamented the attitude of some educated elites who also joined in bullying out of convenience.

“I will never go back to the show, Multichoice can’t even call me…

“I allow myself get bullied by very very insignificant and uneducated people. Not to mention the educated ones amongst that have the ability to see the truth but because of convenience, refused to stand by it,” he said.