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Russell Simmons has been accused of sexually assaulting a Los Angeles woman in the 1990s.
On Tuesday (February 13), a woman, who identified as Jane Doe, filed a lawsuit against Simmons, alleging sexual battery/assault, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and false imprisonment, per People.
Doe cited that she previously “worked as a senior-level music executive at Def Jam Recordings.” She alleged her career was "disrupted and derailed by a devastating experience" she had with Simmons.
According to the lawsuit, Doe and Simmons initially had a professional relationship, and she would commonly bring music videos to his New York City apartment. However “Simmons suddenly began to turn his rapacious attention toward Ms. Doe,” which included “invading her personal space while making sexual innuendos, suggestions, and advances, and rubbing the front of his pants," the lawsuit states.
The alleged assault occurred during an instance where Doe brought the music label executive a rough cut of a video for approval. Simmons allegedly “aggressively and relentlessly flirted with Ms. Doe, made sexual innuendos and advances, asked sexually explicit questions, including personal questions about her sexual preferences and questioning if she was currently wearing a bra.”
According to the suit, Simmons invited Doe to his bedroom to watch the music video and propositioned her to have sex with him. Doe said she "rejected" his advances, but “Mr. Simmons performed a ‘wrestling move,’ climbing on top of Ms. Doe and pinning her arms down on the bed.”
“Simmons ignored Ms. Doe’s resistance and proceeded to rape her," the suit states.
Doe said she quit Def Jam in 1997 and went on to work for other film and production companies, where she “struggled in her relationships with employers” and “became overwhelmed with anxiety.” She relocated from New York to California.
Doe is one among over a dozen women who have accused Simmons of sexual misconduct since 2017. Simmons relinquished his duties at Def Jam shortly after the initial allegations surfaced.
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