Russell Simmons, 60, has been accused of sexual misconduct ranging from assault to rape by 11 women on the record. According to USA Today, the women who came forward included model Keri Ckayssen Khaligi, fashion publicist Kelly Cutrone, and writer Jenny Lumet.
His ex-wife, model, and fashion designer, Kimora Lee Simmons, on Thursday night addressed the sexual-misconduct allegations piling up against him since late November. She posted the following message on her Instagram page,
"I add my voice to the chorus of those speaking out against harassment and violence in all its forms.
I have known Russell for over 25 years. We were close friends, married, divorced and have remained friends, co-partners, and partners throughout it all. These allegations are nothing like the person I have known in all that time. I have known him to be a caring and supportive father and someone who has worked tirelessly to uplift disenfranchised communities.
This is a pivotal moment in which men are being held accountable for their abuses of power and denigrating behavior towards women in all spheres. As a mother of two daughters, I believe that no one should ever be shamed or portrayed as an unreliable witness to their own experience for speaking up. Nor should anyone be condemned legally without a due process and a fair trial.
My sincere hope is that anyone faced with harassment or assault reports it to their organization and/or law enforcement, though I understand that in many cases, this may not be possible. I remain committed as always to fighting injustice and inequity in all its forms. God Bless."
Many of the incidents in question took place in the 1990s before the Simmons' marriage in 1998, though a new lawsuit filed this week by accuser Jennifer Jarosik, who claims he raped her, expands the timeline to 2016, seven years after their divorce. On Wednesday, Russell Simmons' representative Eric Rose released a statement denying the allegation made by Jarosik."
Since November 2017, Russell Simmons posted a defense on social media. In December, the New York Police Department confirmed they were investigating allegations against him, reports USA Today.
