Just after being hit with one lawsuit earlier this week it now looks like Russell Simmons is facing another, but this one is alleging defamation.
According to Variety, former Def Jam executive Drew Dixon recently filed a lawsuit in New York claiming the Def Jam Recordings co-founder made defamatory statements in response to her allegations of sexual assault. Now if you’re not familiar with Drew Dixon, she was one of the three women who accused Russell Simmons of rape back in 2017. Dixon’s lawyer is alleging that Simmons defamed Dixon by denying the allegations during a December interview with the “In Depth with Graham Bensinger” podcast.
RELATED: Russell Simmons Sued For Allegedly Raping Former Def Jam Producer In The 1990s
In the podcast, Simmons stated he has “never been forceful in any of my relationships” but that it’s possible that “someone” could “want notoriety in the market where people thirst for fame, even infamous.” He downplayed the allegations made against him by claiming that “we’re talking about six serious accusations” out of “thousands” of people has “slept with.” Simmons also said on the podcast, “(Rape is) a serious word, but I think they’ve changed the meaning because I’ve never been violent to anybody. Rape is a violent crime.”
In the lawsuit, Dixon’s legal team says the statements Russell made about six accusations, that “necessarily includes Ms. Dixon,” Simmons subjected her “to public ridicule, contempt, and disgrace by, among other things, calling Ms. Dixon a liar in published statements with the malicious intent of discrediting and further damaging Ms. Dixon worldwide.”
Drew Dixon began her career in the music industry in the 1990s, quickly making a name for herself with her talent and determination. As a young woman of color in a predominantly male-dominated industry, Dixon faced numerous obstacles. However, her passion for music and her drive allowed her to thrive, eventually leading to her becoming an A&R executive at Def Jam Recordings.
Russell Simmons, a prominent figure in the music industry, is the co-founder of Def Jam Recordings and a renowned producer. In 2017, Simmons faced accusations of sexual misconduct from multiple women, including Drew Dixon. Dixon accused Simmons of sexually assaulting her in his apartment in 1995 while she was working as an A&R executive at the label.