Kimora Lee laughs as Russell Simmons denies his ex-wife’s claims that he pursued her at 16. He reportedly claims they met when he was 35 and she was 17 and 9 months old.
As we previously shared, Lee, 51, recently reflected on a warning she received from fellow model and friend Tyra Banks, 52 regarding her 68-year-old ex-husband.
While speaking with PEOPLE, Lee admitted hindsight is 20/20 as she recalled her rocky relationship with the music exec and Phat Farm mogul. She did so ahead of her new Lifetime documentary, ‘Kimora Lee: On Her Own,’ which premiered on Sunday (September 20). In the documentary, the former supermodel and Baby Phat founder recalled her early modeling days and how her friend attempted to stop her from dating her ex-husband and children’s father.
Kimora Lee And Russell Simmons’ Tumultuous Relationship
The couple first met in November 1992, during New York Fashion Week, and shortly after that they began dating. In December 1998, the couple tied the knot in a private civil ceremony in Manhattan, New York. Days later, they had a non-denominational wedding ceremony in St. Barts. Simmons’ brother, Run-D.M.C.’s Reverend Run (Josesh Simmons) officiated it. Banks even ended up serving as a bridesmaid.
In January 2000, the couple welcomed their first daughter, Ming Lee Simmons, 26. In August 2002, they welcomed their second daughter, Aoki Lee Simmons, 24. Banks even serves as her godmother. By March 2006, the duo revealed they had separated, but were living in the same home and running their businesses together.
In March 2008, Lee officially filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences. Lee later claimed she was verbally, emotionally, and financially abused for much of their time together. By January 2009, the divorce was finalized and the couple have maintained a co-parenting relationship.
But before Lee and Simmons tied the knot, had kids, and got divorced, Lee now reveals Banks — whom she hasn’t spoke to in some years — attempted to intervene. In Lee’s documentary, she said:
“When I was doing the fashion shows, he would always be front row at the end, like standing up and so loudly clapping and cheering and doing all of these commotions. I definitely was like, ‘Who is the weird guy at the end of the runway?’ And then he would come backstage, and that’s weird. ‘You let these men come backstage — what are you doing? We’re changing.’ But that’s how it was. I was 16 years old when I met that man. He was 18 years older than me.”
Lee said she started to received large flower arrangements from Simmons. But fellow model and new friend Banks peeped his game from a mile away. Lee recalled, “I remember Tyra kept me in her apartment through the weekend trying to avoid me going home and checking my voicemail.”
Speaking with PEOPLE about the instance, Lee said:
“I felt a little bit like she was hating for sure, just because she was getting in my way and getting on my nerves. I’m sure he had already tried to date her and had gone through the whole thing with her and probably so many other girls. I’m sure this was a ritual. I thought she was a little bit hating, but just how a girlfriend would do. She was trying to protect me. I remember I went off with her that first weekend. I went to her house and spent the night like we often did and hung out. Back then you didn’t have a cell phone. You had to get home to get your messages. I just couldn’t get to my messages. But he did call… Even if the guy did the same thing to her like, ‘Oh well, what does she know?’ We think everything is going to be different. My time is going to be different. Or whatever crazy thing we think.”
Russell Simmons Denies Pursuing Kimora Lee At Age 16, Says He Was 35 And She Was 17 And 9 Months
In response to his ex-wife’s claims, Simmons is telling his side of the story. A spokesperson for Simmons told Baller Alert the two met when Lee was almost 18. The rep also highlighted Lee’s own past interviews in which she supports his claims.
The rep said the former couple met at a Mary McFadden fashion show in February 1993. They had mutual friends in attendance, which included: Tyra Banks, Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, and Veronica Webb. The rep said Lee has publicly acknowledged this encounter many times. At this time, Russell Simmons would have been about 35 and 4 months old and Kimora Lee about 17 years and 9 months old.
As mentioned, Simmons’ rep pointed to Lee’s own comments supporting her ex-husband’s claims. A 2004 profile in The Observer reported Lee was 17 when Simmons saw her on the runway. In an October 2006 Vanity Fair interview, Lee said, “We didn’t do anything until I was 18.” The statement from Simmons’ rep continued to say, “I hope this clears up any misunderstanding.”
The rep also mentioned that the two have remained very close friends for 20 years after their divorce, and that Simmons is godfather to Lee’s children from her later relationships. It’s said that he has love and respect for her.
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