Russell Simmons has been sued for defaming the previous Def Jam Recordings govt Drew Dixon, who accused him, in 2017, of sexual assault. The lawsuit cites a Graham Bensinger interview final December during which Simmons, who has denied assault allegations by Dixon and different ladies, recommended accusers would possibly “need notoriety out there the place folks thirst for fame.”
Dixon filed her lawsuit yesterday (February 15) in a New York state courtroom. She alleges, within the lawsuit, that, in 1995, Simmons invited her to his house to take heed to a demo CD, however proceeded to “violently rape her.” After leaving Def Jam for Arista Data, Dixon says L.A. Reid sexually assaulted her in 2001—a declare she pursued final November in a separate lawsuit.
The brand new lawsuit describes Dixon as “one in every of many ladies who whereas pursuing a profession within the music business was disrupted, derailed, and broken for the remainder of her life on account of her horrible experiences by the hands of Mr. Simmons.” Greater than 20 ladies have accused Simmons of sexual harassment or assault, it provides.
Talking out in regards to the assaults has “put [Dixon] again within the crosshairs of her abusers’ sphere of affect,” in line with the lawsuit. Within the Graham Bensinger interview, Simmons claimed that solely six folks had leveled allegations, that accusers had “modified the that means” of rape, and that each one of his relationships had been consensual. He additionally insinuated that “there was maybe a collaboration” between accusers. The lawsuit argues that these claims “have the impact of speaking that Ms. Dixon was mendacity about Mr. Simmons being violent with Ms. Dixon,” damaging her popularity each in music and “as an activist advocate on behalf of victims of intercourse abuse and harassment within the music and leisure business.”
The lawsuit concludes, partially, “By casting aspersions on her credibility publicly amongst his highly effective cohort of fellow moguls, Mr. Simmons has made it unimaginable for Ms. Dixon to make a residing at a stage commensurate together with her expertise, monitor document, and coaching. Her fears of ostracization and retribution when she was first assaulted have been totally realized.”
Dixon is requesting “punitive and exemplary damages,” in addition to her prices related to the lawsuit. With a purpose to win, she might want to show her case “by a preponderance of the proof,” that means that the actual fact in dispute is extra probably than not.
In an announcement shared with Pitchfork, one in every of Drew Dixon’s attorneys, Sigrid S. McCawley, stated:
Pitchfork has additionally reached out to representatives for Russell Simmons for remark.
In case you or somebody you realize has been affected by sexual assault, we encourage you to achieve out for help:
RAINN Nationwide Sexual Assault Hotline
http://rainn.org
1 800 656 HOPE (4673)
Disaster Textual content Line
SMS: Textual content “HELLO” or “HOLA” to 741-741
Supply hyperlink