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Grammy-winning producer and songwriter The-Dream, born Terius Gesteelde-Diamant, is seeking to dismiss significant portions of a sexual assault lawsuit filed against him.
The 47-year-old, known for his work with top artists like Beyoncé, Rihanna, Justin Bieber, and Mariah Carey, was accused of rape and sexual battery in June by former protégé Chanaaz Mangroe, who performed under the name Channii Monroe.
Mr. Gesteelde-Diamant has denied the allegations, and on Friday, his legal team filed a motion to dismiss the case, describing the claims as "a textbook example of a 'shotgun pleading'."
This legal term refers to a complaint that includes multiple allegations without providing sufficient detail or notice to the defendant.
In court documents reviewed by BBC News, Mr. Gesteelde-Diamant's lawyers requested the removal of certain paragraphs from Ms. Mangroe's complaint, labeling them as "immaterial" and "scandalous."
They also sought to dismiss the rape charge, arguing that under California law, rape is not recognized as a separate civil cause of action.
Additionally, they challenged the sex trafficking claim, asserting that it lacks essential elements, such as the involvement of a "commercial sex act."
The defense further requested that Mr. Gesteelde-Diamant's label, Contra Paris, LLC, be excluded from the lawsuit, citing the label's Delaware-based operations, which they argue do not fall under California's jurisdiction.
Attorney Desirée F. Moore, representing Mr. Gesteelde-Diamant, stated, “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.”
She added that Ms. Mangroe's complaint contains numerous allegations that are irrelevant to the core claims and appear designed solely to damage Mr. Gesteelde-Diamant's reputation.
Ms. Mangroe's lawsuit, filed in June, alleges that Mr. Gesteelde-Diamant repeatedly forced her into sexual acts, physically assaulted her, and on one occasion, recorded an intimate encounter, later threatening to share the footage with others.
The 60-page lawsuit details incidents of violence, coercion, and emotional manipulation, with Ms. Mangroe seeking damages for "lost wages" and "mental pain and anguish."
Ms. Mangroe, a 33-year-old aspiring singer and songwriter from the Netherlands, claims she first met Mr. Gesteelde-Diamant in January 2015.
She alleges that he subjected her to "violent sexual encounters," forced her to consume excessive alcohol, and strangled her to the point of near unconsciousness.
She also claims he promised to make her the next Beyoncé or Rihanna and pressured her into sex, claiming it was “part of the process.”
Despite the allegations, Mr. Gesteelde-Diamant, who has won eight Grammy Awards and was recently nominated for Songwriter of the Year at the 65th Grammy Awards, has firmly denied the accusations. In a statement provided to the New York Times in June, he called the claims "untrue and defamatory," expressing his commitment to helping others achieve their career goals and his deep offense at the accusations.
A representative for Ms. Mangroe responded to the BBC, stating, "The Dream’s arguments seeking to dismiss Plaintiff’s allegations are wholly unpersuasive.
We look forward to opposing the motions and proceeding to discovery in this case."
