Russel Simmons Releases Statement After Rape Allegations Surface
Russell Simmons released a statement denying rape allegations after three women accused him of raping them in incidents that spanned over the 80s and 90s.
After Harvey Weinstein, the Def Jam cofounder has found himself at the center of a sexual assault scandal after three women came forward with rape allegations against the hip-hop mogul.
Rape Allegations
Drew Dixon told the New York Times that she worked under Simmons at Def Jam Recordings between 1992 and 1995. During her time at the label, she claims that he acted inappropriately toward her by doing things like exposing his penis to her, giving her a graphic account of how she aroused him, and asking her to sit on his lap.
Dixon, who was 24 at the time, also alleged that Simmons raped her in his downtown Manhattan apartment, after which she quit her job.
Another woman, a singer named Tina Baker, who Simmons was managing in the early 1990s, accused the rap mogul of raping her after inviting her to his place under the pretext of discussing her career.
Instead, she alleged that the 60-year-old pinned her down on the bed and raped her. She added that she was so traumatized that she didn't sing for a year after the incident.
Music journalist Toni Sallie echoed Dixon and Baker's allegations as she claimed Simmons raped her when she went to interview him in the late 1980s. Sallie alleged that the music mogul invited her over to his apartment for a party that he was throwing for his girlfriend.
However, when she arrived, she found herself alone with him in his apartment and although she protested against it repeatedly, Simmons forced himself on her and raped her.
Simmons' Statement
In his statement to the New York Times, Simmons "vehemently" denies the rape allegations and expressed his shock over accusations of violent sexual behavior against him.
He also stated that he has a lot of respect for women and is supportive of their struggle for equality, dignity,
"In recent weeks, some former business, creative and romantic partners have aired grievances as claims I categorically reject. In some of these instances, financial motives and direct contradictory witness testimony has been supplied to the media, which has been completely left out of stories," Simmons continued.
Simmons also added that in the last few days, one woman attempted to extort half a million dollars out of him only to retract her claim later.
"The presumption of innocent until proven guilty must not be replaced by "Guilty by Accusation," he added.
Sexual Misconduct Allegations
These latest series of rape allegations against Simmons follow last month's sexual misconduct allegations against him from former fashion model Keri Claussen Khalighi and Jenny Lumet, daughter of Sidney Lumet.
He responded to the allegations and denied the same before stepping down from a number of his businesses, as previously reported. Four other women have come forward with accusations of sexual misconduct against the multi-millionaire in addition to Khalighi and Lumet.
