Russell Simmons, who ran the rap and hip-hop music scene in the 1990s, is facing sexual harassment and assault accusations from former executives at Def Jam Recordings, the studio where Simmons worked with producer Rick Rude Pioneer Records founded by Rick Rubin.
The “Jane Doe” plaintiff, described as a former senior music executive and video producer at the label, filed the lawsuit in New York federal court on Tuesday, saying her career was stalled because Simmons allegedly harassed her in the ’90s.
According to court documents, “Ms. Doe’s career in the music industry was disrupted and derailed by Mr. Simmons’ devastating experience.”
The plaintiff alleges that while she and Simmons had a professional working relationship from the beginning, “Mr. Simmons revealed his true colors and, through his aggressive behavior, put Ms. Doe’s career at Def Jam in jeopardy.” Paralysis, it was a job she loved and she was at the peak of her success and financial viability.”
On one occasion, Simmons asked her to visit his New York apartment to approve a new film, the complaint said. He initially began “wrestling” with her and “trying to be funny” but “the situation escalated into aggression” and he allegedly pinned her to the bed.
“Ms. Doe repeatedly asked Mr. Simmons to leave her, but he refused,” the complaint states. “Mr. Simmons began raping her.”
The plaintiff alleges that she subsequently had difficulty performing administrative job duties due to frequent panic attacks, depression and anxiety, and was repeatedly harassed by Simmons at Def Jam’s Manhattan offices.
“He would sit on her desk, lean over her and aggressively invade her personal space while making sexual innuendos, suggestions and advances and rubbing the front of his pants,” the complaint states.
The harassment became so pervasive that a senior executive would tell Simmons to leave the plaintiff’s office, the lawsuit alleges.
“Mr. Simmons would follow Ms. Doe to the door or block her path to prevent her from opening the door again,” the complaint continues.
The complaint is one of many filed against music business executives under New York’s Adult Survivors Act (ASA), including Sean “Diddy” Combs, Jimmy Iovine, former Grammy CEO Neil Portnoy, Cooper Gooding Jr. and Jamie Foxx.
The one-year window to look back on sexual assault allegations closed in November, or the statute of limitations would have expired.
It is unclear whether the proceedings can proceed under the ASA or the subsequent Gender Motivated Violence Act, in which the plaintiff claims “Simmons committed a ‘crime of violence’ against Ms Doe because she was a woman and, at least in part, It’s because he harbors illegal hostility towards women”.
The indictment estimates that Simmons amassed a fortune of $340 million. After allegedly being accused of sexual assault and rape in 2017, Simmons announced plans to resign from various corporate roles.
In a statement about the previous accusations, Simmons said: “I completely and unequivocally deny the horrific allegations of non-consensual sex against me.”
The complaint, filed by Kenya Davis and Sigrid McCawley of Boies Schiller Flexner, states: “Ms. Doe has been and continues to be subject to monetary loss, bodily injury, pain and suffering, and severe psychological and emotional distress,” entitles her to “compensatory, consequential, exemplary, general and punitive damages in an amount to be determined at trial.”
-
The following organizations can provide information and support to anyone affected by rape or sexual abuse. In the United States, Rainn offers a support phone number: 800-656-4673. In the UK, Rape Crisis provides support on 0808 500 2222. In Australia, the support number is 1800Respect (1800 737 732).Other international helplines can be found at ibiblio.org/rcip/internl.html
