A Los Angeles woman claims Russell Simmons sexually assaulted her in the 1990s.
In a new lawsuit filed Tuesday in New York federal court and obtained by PEOPLE, the woman, identified as Jane Doe, previously “served as a senior music director at Def Jam Recordings.”
According to the complaint, Doe — who was a music video producer who often worked on videos for Simmons’ Def Jam Recordings label — alleges that her career was “disrupted and derailed by a devastating experience” because of him.
Under New York’s Adult Survivors Act and Gender-Based Violence Act, Doe is suing Simmons, 66, for sexual assault/assault, intentional infliction of emotional distress and false imprisonment.
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While Doe claims that she and the record executive initially had a professional relationship and that he “didn’t flirt with her at all,” she said it was common to bring music videos to Simmons’ New York apartment, which she did “without incident. ” However, the plaintiff alleges that “Simmons suddenly began directing his lustful attentions toward Ms. Doe,” which allegedly included “invading her personal space while making sexual insinuations, advances and advances, and rubbing the front of his pants.”
The attack in question happened when “Mrs. Doe brought a rough cut of the video to Mr. Simmons’ apartment for him to view for approval.” Simmons allegedly “aggressively and relentlessly flirted with Ms. Doe, sexually alluded and contracted, asked sexually explicit questions, including personal questions about her sexual preferences and asking if she was currently wearing a bra.”
Doe claims that Simmons invited her into his bedroom to watch a crude clip of a music video and suggested that she have sex with him. While the plaintiff “rejected” his advances, she claims that “Mr. Simmons performed a ‘wrestling move,’ climbing on top of Ms. Doe and pinning her hands to the bed.” He allegedly continued to ask her for sex, and she refused. “Simmons ignored Ms. Doe’s resistance and continued to rape her,” the lawsuit states.
After the alleged incident, she “left Def Jam in 1997 and worked as an executive producer for film and commercial production companies.” Ms. Doe claims she “struggled in her relationships with her employers” and “became overwhelmed with anxiety.” She also moved from New York to California. “After the attack, she became a completely different person,” the complaint states.
In a statement to PEOPLE, Doe’s attorney Kenya K. Davis said, “As alleged in the complaint, our client was sexually assaulted and harassed by her boss, Russell Simmons, while pursuing her professional ambitions as an executive at Def Jam. She was proud of her contribution to the burgeoning music genre of hip hop, but her hard work and her music career were disrupted and derailed by Mr. Simmons, a rich and powerful celebrity whose wealth and influence allowed his violent behavior to go unchallenged for decades. Now a successful writer and producer in the entertainment industry, Jane Doe’s traumatic experiences with Simmons echo those of many other women he preyed on for decades.”
Simmons’ reps did not respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
Russell Simmons’ sexual assault accusers reveal how life has changed since they spoke out
Since 2017, 19 women have accused the hip-hop mogul of sexual assault.
The allegations span more than three decades and include everything from inappropriate behavior at business meetings to an attempted assault in a New York City women’s restroom during a night out to rape in his apartment, according to various reports. The Hollywood Reporter, The New York Times and Los Angeles Times.
Shortly after allegations of harassment and bullying became public, Simmons relinquished all duties in his Def Jam empire.
Documentary from 2020 Minutes, published on Max, detailed the stories of many women who came forward and spoke out against the entrepreneur.
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org.
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Source: HIS Education