Russell Simmons. Photo courtesy of Variety.
Summary: Russell Simmons is being sued for allegedly raping a woman in 2016.
Jennifer Jarosik, a documentary filmmaker, said that Russell Simmons raped her at his home in 2016. She is now suing the fallen music mogul in civil court, Variety reported.
Jarosik said that Simmons had invited her to his Beverly Hills home that year, and then asked her to have sex. She said “no” and that is when he allegedly got aggressive. She said that he pushed her onto his bed and forced himself onto her.
“Plaintiff tried to force Defendant to stay away from her and in doing so, Defendant knocked Plaintiff off his bed, and Plaintiff hit her head and then Defendant pounced on her while she was still in shock and fear, and proceeded to rape her,” the lawsuit stated.
Simmons said that Jarosik’s claim was “untrue” and that he would fight her case in court.
“This allegation is absolutely untrue,” Simmons said. “I look forward to having my day in court — where, unlike the court of public opinion, I will have the ability to make use of fair processes that ensure that justice will be done and that the full truth will be known.”
Jarosik is seeking $5 million in damages. She said that she met Simmons in 2006, and they were both interested in yoga and meditation. They kept in touch because of that mutual interest, and she said that Simmons offered to finance and co-produce a documentary she was working on.
Jarosik said that after the rape, she told a few close friends but did not go public because she blamed herself for not fighting Simmons off. However, her feelings changed after Simmons was publicly accused by two other women of rape, a model who said she was 17 at the time of the incident and a prominent screenwriter.
Those allegations caused Simmons to step down from his company last year, and he released a statement that he respected women’s rights. He denied ever raping a woman.
“I have accepted that I can and should get dirt on my sleeves if it means witnessing the birth of a new consciousness about women,” Simmons said. “What I will not accept is responsibility for what I have not done. I have conducted my life with a message of peace and love. Although I have been candid about how I have lived in books and interviews detailing my flaws, I will relentlessly fight against any untruthful character assassination that paints me as a man of violence.”
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