The-Dream Files Motion to Dismiss Lawsuit Against Him by Former Protégée Alleging Rape, Sex Trafficking and Assault

In June, singer-producer Chanaaz Mangroe accused him of luring her into an "abusive, violent and manipulative relationship" in a lawsuit

• The-Dream has filed a motion to dismiss a lawsuit "in its entirety" against him accusing him of rape, sexual assault, trafficking and other violent allegations

• The lawsuit was filed by his former protégée, Chanaaz Mangroe, a singer-songwriter

• The filing claims that the complaint “weaponizes destructive racial stereotypes” against The-Dream

The-Dream has filed a motion to dismiss a federal lawsuit filed against him in June by his former protégée, accusing him of rape, sexual assault, trafficking and other violent allegations

In documents filed on Friday, Aug. 16 and obtained by PEOPLE, the singer/songwriter/producer (real name Terius Gesteelde-Diamant), 46, is seeking to dismiss the complaint “in its entirety.”

The-Dream’s attorney Desirée F. Moore argues that the complaint, filed by Chanaaz Mangroe, is a “shotgun pleading” that “must be dismissed in its entirety for failing to attribute specific factual allegations to each defendant.” They are also requesting that Contra Paris, LLC is dismissed from the lawsuit for lack of personal jurisdiction in California.

Related: The-Dream Sued by Former Protégée for Alleged Rape, Sex Trafficking and Assault 

The filing claims that the complaint “weaponizes destructive racial stereotypes” against the “Falsetto” singer.

“Before the complaint raises a single relevant allegation, Plaintiff dedicates several pages to: irrelevant gossip designed to harm Diamant’s children and impugn his marital history; unsubstantiated allegations of past violence (none of which resulted in any proceedings or findings against Diamant); false depictions of an absent father; and racist insinuations that Diamant is affiliated with a street gang,” Dream's legal team alleges in the motion.

The defendant’s legal team also claims that Mangroe “sought out” The-Dream for many years after their interactions ended “unilaterally soliciting sex (and other favors), including in writing,” even when he refused. They also allege that the plaintiff’s claims that The-Dream pursued her are “false.”

Additionally, The-Dream’s attorneys are looking to dismiss or strike the rape claim from the plaintiff, arguing rape is not a separate civil cause of action under California law.

"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," Moore wrote in a statement shared with PEOPLE.

They added, "Absent any facts alleging plaintiff's involvement in a 'commercial sex act,' her cause of action for sex trafficking against Diamant must be dismissed."

Reps for Mangroe have not yet replied to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

Per court documents obtained by PEOPLE, The-Dream was sued by Mangroe on June 4 over allegations that he lured his former protegée into a recording and distribution contract, which she claims led the then-23-year-old “vulnerable artist into an abusive, violent and manipulative relationship” in 2015.

Filed in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, the suit alleges that Mangroe’s experience with The-Dream went on for more than a year and was “nothing short of a prolonged nightmare.”

The filing claims that The-Dream used his power in the music industry to make “false promises” to Mangroe, who was born in the Netherlands, in hopes of gaining her “complete trust.”

Per the complaint, that allegedly included sponsoring the extension of her international visa, offering “lofty visions” of contracts with major labels, guaranteeing hit songs if she became part of his “sanctuary” like with collaborators Rihanna and Beyoncé and also promising her an opening slot on the latter’s upcoming tour.

However, the lawsuit claims that Mangroe was really used to fulfill The-Dream’s own desires, which allegedly “manifested in violent sexual acts and vicious psychological torture.”

The court filing claims that the music producer locked Mangroe in a dark room on one occasion and “violently” had sex with her, left and returned to have sex again while demanding “she tell him she loved him.”

On another occasion, the lawsuit alleges that The-Dream “once raped Ms. Mangroe in the back of a renovated sprinter van,” the same evening that he “forced her to engage in sex acts in a public movie theater.”

Allegedly, The-Dream required Mangroe to "engage in forced sexual acts in multiple jurisdictions" and recorded her those acts as a way to threaten her into silence.

Related: John Legend 'Horrified' by Sean 'Diddy' Combs Allegations: 'Believe Women When They Make These Accusations'

The filing also accused The-Dream’s record label, Contra Paris LLC, and Epic Records of facilitating his “depraved behavior,” and claimed that the “My Love” artist forced Mangroe to consume “excessive amounts of alcohol” by pouring it down her throat, “refused to wear a condom and regularly ejaculated inside” of her and would “frequently” strangle her during “violent sex” — one time where “she almost lost consciousness.”

Other accounts outlined in the court filing claim that The-Dream controlled all aspects of Mangroe’s stay in the U.S. — including where she lived and could go, who she spoke to and what she could eat — and “kept a close track of her location at all times.”

Due to the producer’s “heinous acts,” Mangroe’s career was upended when her music was allegedly taken without explanation and she never received compensation for her work.

According to Mangroe, every attempt to revive her music career has been “hijacked by Dream and those who support him.”

At the time of filing, reps for The-Dream could not be reached for comment by PEOPLE.

In a statement shared with PEOPLE, Mangroe’s attorneys, Douglas H. Wigdor and Meredith Firetog, said, “This is yet another horrific example of how men in the music industry use their power and influence to manipulate and harm others.”

They added, “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.”

In a statement of her own, Mangroe said that sharing her trauma was “one of the most difficult decisions of my life.”

Related: The-Dream Arrested on Assault Charges

“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.

Mangroe added, “Ultimately, my silence has become too painful, and I realized that I need to tell my story to heal.”

She hopes her decision to speak “will also help others and prevent future horrific abuse.”

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org.

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