Russell Simmons is in hot water yet again.
The media mogul has been accused of raping a former Def Jam executive in the 90s. The woman filed the suit under the moniker “Jane Doe” and is suing him for “obstructing the advancement of her career due to harassment,” according to reports. Doe said that she worked as a music executive and video producer at Def Jam in the 90s in her lawsuit.
Her suit also states, “Ms. Doe’s career in the music industry was disrupted and derailed by a devastating experience at the hands of Mr. Simmons.” Doe claims that her relationship with Simmons started professionally but would then turn violent.
“Mr. Simmons revealed his true colors and through his assaultive behavior, disabled Ms. Doe’s career at Def Jam, a job she loved, at the height of her success and financial viability,” the suit continues. The unidentified woman also says that Simmons invited her to his apartment to approve a music video and that he attempted to “wrestle” with her in what he thought was a playful manner. The exchange would become aggressive when he pinned her down on his bed.
“Ms. Doe repeatedly told Mr. Simmons to get off of her, but he refused,” according to the court document. “Mr. Simmons proceeded to rape her.” Since her alleged rape, Doe claims that she has experienced depression, panic attacks, and anxiety, which has cost her job at Def Jam.
Doe states that Simmons’ harassment continued and it got to the point where the senior executive told him to leave her office. “He would sit on her desk, lean over her, aggressively invading her personal space while making sexual innuendos, suggestions, and advances, and rubbing the front of his pants.”
Russell Simmons claims that for all of the women that have accused him of rape, he had consensual relationships with them. He has also denied all allegations of rape when he appeared on In Depth with Graham Bensinger.
What are your thoughts on this?