Russell Simmons is suing HBO and the film-makers of a 2020 documentary detailing allegations in opposition to the music mogul of sexual abuse, claiming that collectively they defamed him and ignored his model of occasions.
On The File, directed by Amy Ziering and Kirby Dick, expanded on reporting by the New York Instances, the Hollywood Reporter, the Los Angeles Instances and different publications on quite a few allegations in opposition to Simmons. It featured the testimony of a number of ladies who declare they have been sexually assaulted by Simmons within the Eighties and 90s, when he was on the top of his affect because the co-founder of Def Jam Recordings, the hip-hop label behind LL Cool J, Public Enemy, the Beastie Boys and different high acts.
Simmons has constantly denied all allegations. He seeks $20m for defamation, alleging the film-makers “disregard[ed] and/or suppressed” data offered by his representatives, in response to a summons filed in Manhattan court docket on Tuesday by Simmons’ lawyer, Imran Ansari.
“Regardless of voluminous help for Mr Simmons within the type of credible data, persuasive proof, witness statements, and requires additional investigation by notable members of the media, politics, and the civil rights motion, the defendants merely disregarded it, and launched, and proceed to re-release globally, a movie that tremendously disparaged and broken Mr Simmons with salacious and defamatory accusations that he vehemently denies,” Ansari and co-counsel Carla DiMare stated in a press release.
The go well with comes after the statute of limitations for defamation in New York, which is one 12 months from the date of first publication. To prevail, Simmons and his authorized staff should display that HBO is chargeable for “republication” in worldwide markets.
On the File premiered to robust opinions on the Sundance movie competition in January 2020. The movie was initially purported to stream on Apple TV+ as a part of producer Oprah Winfrey’s take care of the corporate, however ended up at HBO Max that Might after Winfrey abruptly withdrew her help forward of the movie’s premiere, citing unspecified “inconsistencies”. (Although now not affiliated with the movie, Winfrey continued to publicly help its topics – “I stand with the ladies, I help the ladies, and I do hope that individuals see the movie,” she instructed CBS that January).
Winfrey’s shock withdrawal from the venture “blinded” the film-makers, who maintained that she was incorrect. “There are not any inconsistencies,” Dick instructed the Guardian in Might 2020. “These tales have been reported by the New York Instances, the LA Instances and the Hollywood Reporter and really extensively vetted.”
In line with Simmons’ submitting, he and his attorneys unsuccessfully lobbied HBO leaders on the time to cease distribution of the movie with unspecified contradictory proof. “Defendants have been requested to assessment this proof and knowledge by a number of luminaries in media and politics, together with however not restricted to, civil rights leaders and members of Congress, and different high-profile black leaders; and board members inside the defendant company(s) itself,” the submitting states.
Simmons is considered one of a number of high-profile music figures, together with fellow producer Sean “Diddy” Combs and R&B singer Chris Brown, to face a number of lawsuits for sexual misconduct, together with from ladies who appeared in On the File. He has additionally adopted their footsteps in suing the distributors of documentaries detailing the allegations. Brown claimed defamation in a $500m go well with in opposition to Warner Bros Discovery for releasing the 2024 documentary Chris Brown: A Historical past of Violence, filed this previous January. Diddy, who’s at present on trial in New York for racketeering and intercourse trafficking, sued NBC Common and its streaming service Peacock in February for Diddy: The Making of a Unhealthy Boy, a 90-minute movie on the allegations of sexual abuse made in over three dozen lawsuits.
Simmons was most lately sued in February 2024 by an nameless former government at Def Jam Recording, for an alleged rape within the Nineties and sexual harassment that “disrupted and derailed” her profession. In 2023, he reached a confidential settlement with three ladies, together with documentary participant Sil Lai Abrams, who alleged within the movie that Simmons raped her in 1994.
In all, greater than 20 ladies have accused Simmons of sexual assault. Ansari, his lawyer, works for Aidala, Bertuna & Kamins, a New York-based regulation agency that’s at present representing Harvey Weinstein in his legal trial for sexual assault and misconduct. Simmons seeks “instant removing” of the documentary from HBO’s platforms and $20m in damages.
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