Update 01/21/2020 1:21pm:
Oprah Winfrey is not done with her thoughts on the Russell Simmons situation, noting that her backing out of the documentary that was focused on his sexual assault allegations is not a victory for the mogul.
Oprah said “This is not a victory for Russell. I unequivocally say that I did not pull out because of Russell. This is not a victory lap for him. I cannot be silenced by a Russell Simmons after all I've been through."
Oprah did give a more detailed reason as to why she stepped away from the documentary though, saying “I don't care about awards — I just care about getting it right, and I think there's some inconsistencies in the stories that we need to look at. I wanted the context of the story to be broadened, I wanted more women brought into the story."
source: CBS
Update 01/18/2020 1:59pm:
According to Oprah, she was pressured to back out of a documentary highlighting alleged sexual abuse claims geared towards former friend Russell Simmons by the mogul himself.
Via the New York Times, Oprah said: “He did reach out multiple times and attempted to pressure me.” A spokesperson for Oprah also said Oprah withdrew from the documentary not because of Simmon’s request, but because of reported inconsistencies in the story coming from one of the accusers—Drew Dixon. The spokesperson said, “First and foremost, she believes all of the women.”
source: Fox News
Update 01/11/2020 12:44pm:
Previously, Russell Simmons called out Oprah for reportedly being an executive producer of a documentary that features one of the women who accused Simmons of sexual misconduct. Now, Oprah has revealed that she is backing down from her position with the documentary.
In Oprah’s statement, she said “I have decided that I will no longer be executive producer on the untitled Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering documentary and it will not air on Apple TV+. I want it to be known that I unequivocally believe and support the women. Their stories deserve to be told and heard. In my opinion, there is more work to be done on the film to illuminate the full scope of what the victims endured, and it has become clear that the filmmakers and I are not aligned in that creative vision. I have great respect for their mission, but given the filmmakers’ desire to premiere the film at the Sundance Film Festival before I believe it is complete, I feel it’s best to step aside. I will be working with Time’s Up to support the victims and those impacted by abuse and sexual harassment.”
source: THR
Update 12/14/2019 1:23am:
While 50 Cent threw the first stone, Russell Simmons is coming behind his Queens brethren to call out Oprah over the upcoming #MeToo documentary focusing on Simmons accuser Drew Dixon. Simmons posted a lengthy post on Instagram, which read:
Dearest OPRAH, you have been a shining light to my family and my community. Contributing so much to my life that I couldn’t list a fraction of it in this blog.I have given you the gift of meditation and the groundbreaking book” THE POWER OF NOW “we bonded to say the least. This is why it’s so troubling that you choose me to single out in your recent documentary. I have already admitted to being a playboy more (appropriately titled today “womanizer”) sleeping with and putting myself in more compromising situations than almost any man I know. Not 8 or 14 thousand like Warren Beatty or Wilt Chamberlain, but still an embarrassing number. So many that some could reinterpret or reimagine a different recollection of the same experiences. Please note that ur producers said that this upcoming doc was to focus ONLY on 3 hand chosen women. I have refused to get in the mud with any accusers, but let’s acknowledge what i have shared. I have taken and passed nine 3-hour lie detector tests (taken for my daughters), that these stories have been passed on by CNN, NBC, BUZZFEED, NY POST, NY MAG, AND OTHERS. Now that you have reviewed the facts and you SHOULD have learned what I know; that these stories are UNUSABLE and that “hurt people hurt people”. Today I received a call from an old girlfriend from the early 1980s which means that they are using my words/evidence against me and their COMMITMENT / (all of the claims are 25 to 40 years old) It is impossible to prove what happened 40 years ago, but in my case proof exists of what didn’t happen, mostly signed letters from their own parents, siblings, roommates, band members, interns, and in the case of 2 of your 3 accusers, their own words in their books. Shocking how many people have misused this important powerful revolution for relevance and money. Maybe you should name your documentary “FLAVOR OF LOVE”!? In closing, I am guilty of exploiting, supporting, and making the soundtrack for a grossly unequal society, but i have never been violent or forced myself on anyone. Still I am here to help support a necessary shift in power and consciousness. Let us get to work on uplifting humanity and put this moment and old narrative behind
Original 12/13/2019 9:51am:
50 Cent took to Instagram to share his thoughts on the upcoming #MeToo documentary that Oprah is producing that will focus on Russell Simmons accuser Drew Dixon. Fif claims that the documentary shows that Oprah is only going after Black male accusers, pointing out her interview with Michael Jackson accusers Wade Robson and James Safechuck.
50 Cent wrote, "I don’t understand why Oprah is going after black men. No Harvey Weinstein, No Epstein, just Micheal jackson and Russell Simmons this sh*t is sad. Gale hit R Kelly with the death blow documentary. Every time I hear Micheal jackson I don’t know whether to dance or think about the little boys butts.These documentary’s are publicly convicting their targets, it makes them guilty till proven innocent."
He followed up with a post showing male celebrities who have been accused of sexual misconduct with Jeffrey Epstein, Harvey Weinsten, Kevin Spacey, and Donald Trump with the words "walk" written across them. Bill Cosby and R. Kelly have "jail" written over their photos.
