Three women have gone on the record to accuse Def Jam Recordings founder Russell Simmons of rape, a fortnight after the 60-year-old stepped down from the industry powerhouse amid mounting allegations of misconduct.
Speaking to The New York Times, former Def Jam executive Drew Dixon, former singer Tina Baker, and music journalist Toni Sallie, outlined an alleged pattern of physical and sexual coercion.
Dixon states Simmons raped her at his Manhattan apartment in 1995. After Dixon had verbally rebuffed his alleged sexual advances, and even mentioned a recent gynaecological procedure which meant she was unable to have sex, Simmons allegedly cornered her.
“The last thing I remember was him pinning me down to kiss me on the bed,” Dixon said. She claims that she has disassociated from the incident, but recalls coming to, naked, in a hot tub with her boss.
Dixon threatened to sue, and reached a settlement with Simmons and the label. She says she kept the story quiet as she didn’t want to be stigmatised in the industry for accusing such a powerful figure. Regardless, she changed careers in 2002.
Baker states her one-time manager Simmons raped her at his apartment in 1991, after inviting her back to his apartment. She alleges Simmons pushed her down on the bed, and that “I did nothing, I shut my eyes and waited for it to end.”
Sallie, who met Simmons while reporting, went on several dates with the mogul. While they split, they remained on good terms, and Simmons invited her to a party in 1988. It was there Simmons allegedly raped her.
“He pushed me on the bed and jumped on top of me, and physically attacked me,” Sallie said, adding that she didn’t report the incident to police as “I didn’t know how that would turn out.”
In a statement provided to The Times through Simmons’ lawyer Brad D. Rose, he vehemently denied any nonconsensual sex. However, he did admit to “inappropriate conduct” against Dixon while he was her direct superior at Def Jam.
The exposé highlights the difficulties of women to come forward against their powerful alleged abusers, especially for women of colour in the entertainment industry.
It also comes after former model Keri Claussen Khalighi stated Simmons acted in concert with director Brett Ratner to perpetrate sexual misconduct.
You can read the full piece HERE.
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