Russel Simmons Apologizes To The Woman Who Accused Him Of Sexual Assault+ Steps Down From His Companies

Russell Simmons, the latest in a string of Hollywood executives, is stepping down from his companies after being accused of sexual assault, three times.

The first accusation came from model, Keri Claussen Khalighi in a Nov. 19 article in the Los Angeles Times.  In it Khalighi accuses Russell and director Brett Ratner of luring her to his apartment where she was forced to perform oral sex on Simmons, while Ratner watched. Later, she alleges, she was penetrated by Simmons in he shower. Another woman, Tanya Reid, also accused Simmons of pressuring her to perform oral sex on Ratner.

171119 russell simmons brett ratner se 558p 86349e6dbb9c7e15710c1df35c8b6d47.nbcnews ux 2880 1000Both Simmons and Ratner denied the claims. Simmons, issuing the following statement:

“I have never committed any acts of aggression or violence in my life. I would never knowingly cause fear or harm to anyone.”

Russel’s denials prompted writer, Jenny Lumet (granddaughter of Lena horne and daughter of Sidney Lumet) to write her own detailed account of an incident with Russel which occurred in 1991.

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You can read the entire account here, but here is excerpt:

It was dark but not pitch-dark. You closed the door.

At that point, I simply did what I was told.

There was penetration. At one point you were only semi-erect and appeared frustrated. Angry? I remember being afraid that you would deem that my fault and become violent. I did not know if you were angry, but I was afraid that you were.

I desperately wanted to keep the situation from escalating. I wanted you to feel that I was not going to be difficult. I wanted to stay as contained as I could.

You told me to turn over on my stomach. You said something about a part of my body. You did not ejaculate inside me.

When it was over, I got my clothes and quickly went down in the elevator by myself. You didn’t try to stop me. I went home in a taxi. I was grateful to be secure in my home. I never told anyone this story until October 27 of this year (after the Harvey Weinstein story was in the news but weeks before the first public claims were made against you), when I told a girlfriend from childhood.

In a statement released via Instagram, Simmons said he had a different recollection of their encounter, but admits that Lumet’s “feelings of fear and intimidation are real.” Screen Shot 2017 11 30 at 1.03.01 PM

The chickens, friends, have come to roost. Share your thoughts below!

 

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One Comment

  1. Another ugly rapist outed.The chickens are coming home to roost. The days of powerful men getting away with rape without repercussions are over. I hope women continue to tell their stories so people know exactly who these men are, monsters.

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