A former senior executive at Def Jam Recordings is suing the label’s co-founder Russell Simmons, alleging he raped her in 1997 and that was sexually harassed, assaulted and battered during their time working together.
The plaintiff identified only as Jane Doe claims her “career in the music industry was disrupted and derailed by a devastating experience at the hands of Mr. Simmons.” The lawsuit filed today in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York (read it here) labels the mogul “a rich and powerful celebrity whose wealth and influence allowed his abusive behavior to go unchallenged for decades.”
“While at first Mr. Simmons and Ms. Doe had a professional working relationship, Mr. Simmons revealed his true colors and, through his assaultive behavior, disabled Ms. Doe’s career at Def Jam, a job she loved, at the height of her success and financial viability,” reads the 18-page complaint.
The plaintiff identified only as Jane Doe claims her “career in the music industry was disrupted and derailed by a devastating experience at the hands of Mr. Simmons.” The lawsuit filed today in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York (read it here) labels the mogul “a rich and powerful celebrity whose wealth and influence allowed his abusive behavior to go unchallenged for decades.”
“While at first Mr. Simmons and Ms. Doe had a professional working relationship, Mr. Simmons revealed his true colors and, through his assaultive behavior, disabled Ms. Doe’s career at Def Jam, a job she loved, at the height of her success and financial viability,” reads the 18-page complaint.
- 2/13/2024
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
Russell Simmons has filed a lawsuit against one of his accusers in an attempt to recoup $35,000 in legal fees.
In March, a Jane Doe accuser filed a $10 million lawsuit against the disgraced Def Jam mogul, alleging that Simmons raped her in a Sacramento, California hotel room in 1988.
That lawsuit stated that Simmons, “a dangerous sex predator,” also threatened the woman prior to the rape, “I am going to fuck you… I’m going to fuck you or I’m going to fuck your son. You decide.” “[Doe] was shocked that Simmons...
In March, a Jane Doe accuser filed a $10 million lawsuit against the disgraced Def Jam mogul, alleging that Simmons raped her in a Sacramento, California hotel room in 1988.
That lawsuit stated that Simmons, “a dangerous sex predator,” also threatened the woman prior to the rape, “I am going to fuck you… I’m going to fuck you or I’m going to fuck your son. You decide.” “[Doe] was shocked that Simmons...
- 8/10/2018
- by Daniel Kreps
- Rollingstone.com
A documentary filmmaker who accused Russell Simmons of raping her in 2016 has dropped her lawsuit against him.
Jennifer Jarosik filed the suit in January, seeking $5 million. She alleged that Simmons invited her to his home on Doheny Drive and then physically overpowered her. She also repeated the claim in an interview on “Megyn Kelly Today,” in which she alleged that Simmons also sexually assaulted her at his office in 2011. Her attorney said the second episode fell outside the statute of limitations.
Simmons strongly denied the claims, and earlier this month filed an answer to the suit quoting from emails and text messages from Jarosik. In a message a few weeks after the 2016 incident, she wrote, “Sending love <3.” A few days later, she wrote “I miss u Russell. r u ok?”
The answer also alleged that Jarosik had been deemed an unfit parent and was found by a court to have...
Jennifer Jarosik filed the suit in January, seeking $5 million. She alleged that Simmons invited her to his home on Doheny Drive and then physically overpowered her. She also repeated the claim in an interview on “Megyn Kelly Today,” in which she alleged that Simmons also sexually assaulted her at his office in 2011. Her attorney said the second episode fell outside the statute of limitations.
Simmons strongly denied the claims, and earlier this month filed an answer to the suit quoting from emails and text messages from Jarosik. In a message a few weeks after the 2016 incident, she wrote, “Sending love <3.” A few days later, she wrote “I miss u Russell. r u ok?”
The answer also alleged that Jarosik had been deemed an unfit parent and was found by a court to have...
- 4/25/2018
- by Gene Maddaus
- Variety Film + TV
An aspiring documentary filmmaker who accused Russell Simmons of rape asked the court today to dismiss the lawsuit.
Jennifer Jarosik filed a civil suit in U.S. District Court in January, accusing the founder of Def Jam Recordings of rape and sexual battery when she approached Simmons seeking help in producing and financing a film.
The woman alleged Simmons befriended her, invited her to his Los Angeles home under the pretext of discussing the film project, and then assaulted and raped her. The lawsuit sought $5 million in damages.
Simmons, in his court filing, said he had Jarosik had known each other for a decade, and that she would make unsolicited requests for his help on various entertainment projects — including a documentary, reality television shows and children’s books. He offered encouragement, offered to donate a few thousand dollars to one project, and asked a friend who was a documentary filmmaker...
Jennifer Jarosik filed a civil suit in U.S. District Court in January, accusing the founder of Def Jam Recordings of rape and sexual battery when she approached Simmons seeking help in producing and financing a film.
The woman alleged Simmons befriended her, invited her to his Los Angeles home under the pretext of discussing the film project, and then assaulted and raped her. The lawsuit sought $5 million in damages.
Simmons, in his court filing, said he had Jarosik had known each other for a decade, and that she would make unsolicited requests for his help on various entertainment projects — including a documentary, reality television shows and children’s books. He offered encouragement, offered to donate a few thousand dollars to one project, and asked a friend who was a documentary filmmaker...
- 4/25/2018
- by Dawn C. Chmielewski
- Deadline Film + TV
Russell Simmons and one of the women who accused him of sexual assault are no longer headed to court ... the lawsuit's been dismissed. Jennifer Jarosik sued Simmons for millions of dollars, claiming he'd sexually assaulted her after she denied his advances. According to docs, the suit was dismissed Wednesday morning. It was dismissed with prejudice ... meaning she can't refile. Typically, that's a sign there's been a settlement. Reps for Simmons had no comment. The dismissal...
- 4/25/2018
- by TMZ Staff
- TMZ
Russell Simmons has responded to a lawsuit filed by a woman who accused him of raping her, saying among other things that the accuser suffers from “untreated mental health issues” and has “a propensity to exaggerate.” In legal papers filed Wednesday, hip-hop mogul Simmons denied accusations by Jennifer Jarosik that he raped her in 2016, saying instead that he “has only ever tried to help” Jarosik, and that any sex was consensual. “In various court proceedings over the past six years, Ms. Jarosik has been found by a court: (1) to have a ‘propensity to exaggerate'; (2) to suffer from ‘untreated...
- 4/4/2018
- by Tim Kenneally
- The Wrap
3:17 Pm Pt -- Jarosik's attorney, Perry C. Wander, tells us, "Ms. Jarosik is a loving mother and a good parent and her parenting abilities have no relevance in this matter." Russell Simmons claims a woman accusing him of sexual assault sent him loving texts and even nudes after the alleged rape ... and her lawsuit is nothing more than a cash grab. Simmons says in new legal docs, he and Jennifer Jarosik had a casual...
- 4/4/2018
- by TMZ Staff
- TMZ
1:38 Pm Pt -- Russell tells TMZ, "I vehemently deny all the allegations made against me. They have shocked me to my core as I have never been abusive or violent in any way in my relations with women. I have submitted myself to multiple lie detector tests." Simmons continues, "I denied forced sex and sexual harassment allegations brought against me in each test; I also answered no to the question, 'Have you ever physically...
- 3/23/2018
- by TMZ Staff
- TMZ
[[tmz:video id="0_xu8tftbi"]] Kimora Lee Simmons thinks the woman who just sued her ex-husband, Russell Simmons, for rape is lying. A photog got Kimora out Thursday after Jennifer Jarosik filed a lawsuit claiming Russell propositioned her for sex in 2016 and when she refused he brutalized her by striking and pushing her and then raping her. Kimora takes a beat before answering, but says she believes he's innocent. Russell and Kimora were married between 1998 and 2009, although they split in 2006, and they have 2 kids together.
- 1/26/2018
- by TMZ Staff
- TMZ
Russell Simmons has again been accused of sexual misconduct, and this accusation comes with a $5 million lawsuit attached to it. In her suit, filed Wednesday in federal court in California, Jennifer Jarosik says that Simmons raped her in 2016 at his Los Angeles home in August 2016. According to the suit, Jarosik first met Simmons, an aspiring documentary producer, in New York City and befriended him. Simmons offered to be interviewed for Jarosik’s documentary, as well as to co-produce and finance it. Also Read: Russell Simmons Accuser Describes Sexual Assault: 'Next Thing I Know, My Pants Were Down' (Video) In August 2016,...
- 1/25/2018
- by Tim Kenneally
- The Wrap
A woman wants more than $5 million from Russell Simmons for allegedly sexually assaulting her. Jennifer Jarosik claims in a new lawsuit Simmons invited her to his house in 2016 and propositioned her for sex, which she refused. She says Simmons became aggressive, pushed her onto his bed and as she fought back, he allegedly knocked her off the bed, hit her in the head and pounced on her. She says she was in "shock and fear...
- 1/25/2018
- by TMZ Staff
- TMZ
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