Recently, a former music executive at Def Jam Recordings filed a lawsuit against Russell Simmons for alleged rape and harassment. The executive, referred to as “Jane Doe” in the lawsuit, accused Simmons of raping her at his apartment more than 25 years ago.
According to the lawsuit, the plaintiff’s career was hindered by the harassment she experienced at the hands of Simmons during her time at the label in the 1990s. The complaint alleges that Simmons asked the plaintiff to visit his apartment to approve a new video, but the situation escalated into aggression, with Simmons pinning her down on a bed and raping her.
The aftermath of the alleged assault left the plaintiff struggling with frequent panic attacks, depression, and anxiety, which affected her ability to perform her executive duties. This ultimately led her to resign from her position at Def Jam. Additionally, the lawsuit claims that Simmons repeatedly harassed the plaintiff at the label’s offices.
The lawsuit brings forth claims for battery, false imprisonment, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and a violation of New York’s gender-motivated violence law. It was filed under the state’s Adult Survivors Act, which allows victims of sexual misconduct to sue high-profile figures in the entertainment industry, including Simmons, Sean “Diddy” Combs, Jimmy Iovine, and others.
Various complaints have been filed citing the law, with approximately 2,700 cases related to sexual misconduct. This case comes on the heels of similar accusations against Simmons from another former music executive, Drew Dixon, who accused him of raping her in 1995.
The move to file the lawsuit under the Adult Survivors Act presents a challenge for Simmons, whose stake in Def Jam was reportedly sold for $100 million in 1999. A statement from his legal team regarding the recent lawsuit is yet to be released.
