Former record executive and Def Jam Recordings co-founder Russell Simmons is speaking out about allegations of sexual assault he faced in 2017.
More than a dozen women claimed he raped or sexually assaulted them over several decades—allegations he vehemently denies.
After the allegations became public, Simmons stepped down from various business roles and non-profit organizations, including his position at Def Jam. He then moved to Bali, Indonesia, without an extradition treaty with the United States.
In a candid sitdown on “In Depth with Graham Bensinger,” Simmons was asked about the allegations
“I’ve never been violent to anybody,” Simmons declared. “Of course, I’ve been insensitive, but certainly never been forceful in any of my relationships, all of which I’ve had have been consensual.”
Simmons adds, “When someone said, for instance, ‘I was violent’ — one person said that — and I’ve never been violent. Took that. And one said I apologized. I never apologized about assaulting anyone. But if two people say it, because one said it, and #metoo, and the second person said it, then I took a test for it. Three hours per test by two polygraph examiners — one that I’ve never done this to anyone and one, I’ve never done to each individual.”
In January 2020, HBO Max aired their documentary “On the Record,” which delved into the misconduct allegations surrounding Simmons. One of his accusers, ex-Def Jam executive Drew Dixon, was featured in the documentary. Dixon alleges Simmons, her then-boss at Def Jam Recordings, raped her in his Manhattan apartment in 1995. She was 24 at the time.
“I really thought I was hired to make records. And in a way I was. But, I had to navigate one of those Wipeout obstacle courses—avoiding sexual harassment [by Def Jam co-founder Russell Simmons] and not wanting to complain because everybody said I was crazy to be doing this in the first place! I’m just going to figure out how to keep it moving. I got this,” Dixon told Ms. Magazine about her time at Def Jam. “I didn’t understand I was being groomed. I didn’t understand that every time I ignored one transgression and didn’t quit, the next one was going to be worse. I also didn’t realize he was a rapist … I didn’t know that if he actually had the opportunity in a room alone with you, he would turn violent. I had no idea.”
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, you can contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org.
