Entertainment mogul Russell Simmons quits business empire after being accused by Jenny Lumet of forcing her into sex and ‘locking her in his car’
Russell Simmons quits business empire after yet accusation of sexual misconduct, weeks apart
Jenny Lumet, 50, revealed her accusation in The Hollywood Reporter on Thursday
She says she was 24, when Simmons 10 years older, forced himself on her after locking the doors of his chauffeur-driven car once she was inside it
She claims Simmons locked her in his chauffeur-driven car in 1991 after offering her a ride home from a restaurant where they had been dining separately
She says once in the car, he told his driver to take them to his apartment against her will
There, she says he led her into a ‘dark’ bedroom and forced her into sex
Simmons, 60, says he remembers the night in a ‘different’ way but said he was ‘anguished’ over her claims
Mogul announced he was stepping down from his $340million business empire that spans entertainment, clothing, marketing and lifestyle, in light of the allegations
Lumet is the second person to accuse him of sexual misconduct
Former Victoria’s Secret model Keri Claussen Khalighi previously accused him of sexually assaulting her in the same apt in 1991
Russell Simmons quits business empire after yet accusation of sexual misconduct, by actress Jenny Lumet [insert], the second woman, just weeks apart
Entertainment mogul Russel Simmons has quit his business and music empire after being accused of sexual misconduct,a second time in weeks
On Thursday, actress and screenwriter Jenny Lumet, accused Simmons of forcing her into having sex with him after allegedly locking her in his car and taking her to his apartment against her will in 1991. Jenny is the daughter of late Film director Sidney Lumet,grew up in hollywood.
The Lummet accusation channels an earlier allegation by former model Keri Claussen Khalighi claims she too was assaulted by him in the same apartment as Brett Ratner watched. Both alleged assaults happened the same year.
In an open letter to Simmons that was published by, Lumet The Hollywood Reporter, Lumet, 50, said she was prompted to share her accusations after reading Simmons’ denial of the other woman’s claims.
She says she was 24, Simmons 10 years older, when he forced himself on her after locking the doors of his chauffeur-driven car once she was inside it.
They had both been at the Manhattan restaurant Inodchine, dining separately, when she says he lured her to the vehicle by offering her a ride home.
Russel Simmons quitting his business to focus on ‘personal growth’ and ‘healing’
No, you are not getting off with the denials! Jenny with her dad, legendary film producer Sidney Lumet in a 2008 photo, he died in 2011 says she was assaulted by a man she was familiar with, Simmons, in 1991
Jenny Lumet, claimed on Thursday that Simmons forced her into having sex with him in 1991 when she was 24 and he was ten years older. She is pictured with her father in 2008. Sidney died in 2011
Simmons latest accuser is the 50-year-old daughter of legendary film producer Sidney and Gail Buckley, whose grandmother is the iconic jazz singer Lena Horne. She was familiar with Simmons having socialized with him in groups for years beforehand.
On the night of the alleged encounter, she said he switched from the bubbly and friendly person she knew and said ‘no’ twice to his amorous overtures after she gave his chauffeur her address.
Once at his apartment building, she says he led her into an elevator where he ‘pressed his body and mouth’ on to her as they ascended to his apartment.
It was dark. You closed the door. At that point, I did what I was told. There was penetration.’
Jenny Lumet in an open letter to Russell Simmons alleging how he attacked her in 1991
There, she says he led her into his ‘dark’ bedroom where the alleged attack took place.
‘It was dark, but not pitch dark. You closed the door. At that point, I simply did what I was told. There was penetration. At one point you were only semi-erect and appeared frustrated.
‘Angry? I remember being afraid that you would deem that my fault and become violent. I did not know if you were angry, but I was afraid that you were,’ she said.
She then described how Simmons told her to ‘turn on to’ her stomach before he ejaculated.
‘I desperately wanted to keep the situation from escalating. I wanted you to feel that I was not going to be difficult. I wanted to stay as contained as I could.
‘You told me to turn over on my stomach. You said something about a part of my body. You did not ejaculate inside me,’ she said.
Afterwards, she claims she got herself a taxi and went home.
Jenny Lumet and Joseph Simmons, aka Rev Run, Russell’s brother together on the 1988 film ‘Tougher Than Leather ‘
Lumet said the pair had known each other for years and that Simmons gently pursued her before the alleged attack.
Jenny Lumet and Simmons worked together years earlier on the 1988 film ‘Tougher Than Leather’ which was put together to promote Run DMC’s latest album at the time.
In response to her claims on Thursday, Simmons released a statement to say he was stepping down from his business empire worth a reported $340million that spans 11 yoga, health, lifestyle, business, communications, finance and entertainment companies along with his three charities.
Simmons acknowledged the encounter occurred, but claiming ‘While her memory of that evening is very different from mine, it is now clear to me that her feelings of fear and intimidation are real.
‘While I have never been violent, I have been thoughtless and insensitive in some of my relationships over many decades and I sincerely and humbly apologize.,
Simmons said he would focus on ‘personal growth’ and ‘healing’.
‘This is a time of great transition… ‘As for me, I will step aside and commit myself to continuing my personal growth, spiritual learning and above all to listening.’
Ambushed: Lumet [in 1985 photo with movie director dad], grew up in famous film and music circles. Her grandmother is the jazz singer Lena Horne and she knew her attacker from previous business relations
Her alleged attacker told Lumet he was a fan of grandmother’s [legendary jazz singer Lena Horne’s]. At the time of the alleged assault in 1991, Simmons was already a star due largely to the popularity of Run DMC and the success of his music label Def Jam, which he co-founded with Rick Rubin.
‘Dear Russell, Lumet writes, ‘ I met you around 1987, through Rick Rubin, who has always been kind to me. Rick knew my sister through NYU and asked me, at the upstairs bar in a nightclub called the Palladium, to be in a movie you were producing that Rick was directing, starring RUN DMC. It was, frankly, a lousy movie, and I was terrible in it.’
Lumet claimed Simmons told her he had a ‘thing for a little yellow girl’, an apparent reference to her mixed-race. She also claims that he once sent her 250 balloons with a note which read: ‘Please baby, please baby, baby, baby, baby.’
On the night in question, she says she innocently accepted his offer of a ride home but that the trip quickly turned sinister.
The driver, she says, did nothing to help her.
Former Victoria’s Secret model Keri Claussen Khalighi [left. in 1995 photo], earlier accused Simmons [right], of sexually assaulting her in his LA apt in 1991, while a friend watched
‘You offered me a ride to my home. I said, sure, Lumet writes.
‘At no time that night did I say: “Russell, I will go home with you”. Or, “Come home with me.” Or “I will have sex with you.” Or “I have the desire to have sex with you.”
‘I got into the car with you. The driver began to drive. I assumed you knew where I lived, because you had sent me 250 balloons, but I gave the driver my address on 19th Street and 2nd Avenue, Jenny Lumet recounts.
‘You said to the driver: “No.” I didn’t understand, so I said: “Russell?” I said, again, to the driver: “19th Street.”
‘Again you said to the driver: “No. ”
‘Then, the car doors locked. It was loud. The noise made me jump.’
The pair continued to run in to one another at events including the Oscars for years after the alleged attack.
According to Lumet, they were cordial and ‘nodded’ at one another but never spoke of the sexual encounter again.
She said she was suddenly compelled to address it this month after watching him deny the claims of others who say he has abused them.
‘I can’t leave those women twisting in the wind. Maybe the recalling of this incident can be helpful. I don’t know if it can.
Lumet said: ‘In this very moment, I feel a pang to protect your daughters. I don’t think you are inclined to protect mine,’ she said.
Simmons who was married to Kimora Lee Simmons is currently dating Hana Nitsche, [right]
In response, Simmons issued a strongly worded denial.
‘I completely and unequivocally deny the horrendous allegations of non-consensual sex against me with every fiber of my being,’ he said.
Simmons has three children with ex-wife Kimora Lee Simmons. He has been in a relationship with 31-year-old German model Hana Nitsche for five years.
At the time of his alleged attacks on Lumet and Khalighi, the single Simmons was already a prominent figure in the music industry, courtesy of Def Jam Records which he co-founded with Rick Rubin in 1985.
RUSSELL SIMMON’S STATEMENT
‘I have been informed with great anguish of Jenny Lumet’s recollection about our night together in 1991. I know Jenny and her family and have seen her several times over the years since the evening she described.
While her memory of that evening is very different from mine, it is now clear to me that her feelings of fear and intimidation are real. While I have never been violent, I have been thoughtless and insensitive in some of my relationships over many decades and I sincerely and humbly apologize.
This is a time of great transition. The voices of the voiceless, those who have been hurt or shamed, deserve and need to be heard. As the corridors of power inevitably make way for a new generation, I don’t want to be a distraction so I am removing myself from the businesses that I founded.
The companies will now be run by a new and diverse generation of extraordinary executives who are moving the culture and consciousness forward.
I will convert the studio for yogic science into a not-for-profit center of learning and healing. As for me, I will step aside and commit myself to continuing my personal growth, spiritual learning and above all to listening.’
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