As part of the #MeToo wave in late 2017, several women told their stories about Russell Simmons. I believed the women. Their stories were similar – a man with a lot of power and money, a man with creepy misogynist friends, a man who openly treated women like sh-t publicly – so yes, it seemed reasonable to believe that he was a serial rapist and serial sexual assailant. In 2018, Simmons apparently moved from New York to Bali, where it appears he’s still trying to escape civil lawsuits and criminal investigations. He does still pop up in the US sometimes, although I think he’s sold all of his real estate in NY.
More than a decade before Simmons was outed as a serial predator, Kimora Lee Simmons had already divorced him and she was the primary custodial parent for their two daughters, Ming Lee Simmons and Aoki Lee Simmons, both of whom are in their early 20s right now. She remarried and expanded her family. She supports herself, she supports her children and her second husband isn’t seen that much. While Aoki and Ming saw their dad a lot when they were little, everything seemed to go sideways when he was outed as a predator and he moved to Bali. As it turns out, Russell has been harassing and emotionally abusing his ex-wife and daughters for years now, and they’ve been trying to deal with it privately, but it’s all come spilling out publicly.
The day after Father’s Day, Kimora Lee Simmons and her daughter, Aoki, took to Instagram to shed light on Russell Simmons’ alleged abusive behavior. The back-and-forth appears to have begun after their oldest daughter, Ming, wished Kimora a “Happy Father’s Day” instead of Russell.
The Def Jam Records co-founder took to Instagram to share a message that alleged Kimora was at fault for making it hard to be a father to his daughters. “Stop telling fathers they should have fought harder to see their children and start asking mothers why he had to fight at all,” Russell’s post read.
Taking to Instagram Live Monday, Kimora broke down in tears explaining how Russell has allegedly been verbally attacking her and her daughters and lying about the status of their family’s relationship. Kimora claimed that Russell’s gaslighting has been overlooked by fans and friends of theirs alike due to his “powerhouse” media mogul status.
“Please don’t attack my children, they’ve been through so much. Don’t attack my family — which is supposed to be your family too,” Kimora said of Russell, choking up. “Don’t do that because you’re at rock bottom, I don’t know, you’re grasping at straws. This is a money grab? I don’t really know what this is,” she questioned. She alleged that Russell would send himself flowers and post photos on social media claiming they are from her. Kimora claims he has been blocked from her Instagram for years.
Their youngest daughter, Aoki, also took to Instagram Live to explain how despite defending her father in the past, “this man is awful to me. He has done awful things to me and I’m so tired of it,” she said in tears. She went on to say that she’s been scared to speak up in the past because her father is so beloved in the entertainment industry.
“So if I never get any jobs ever again then like fine, I’ll go be a lawyer because I shouldn’t have to lie or be bullied by a child,” she said of her father having an impact on her modeling career. “You cannot just abuse your kids behind closed doors and not take accountability. You don’t get to do this,” Aoki said. Aoki also took to Instagram to share several screenshots of text messages with her father where he calls Kimora a “piece of sh**” as well as a silenced video of him yelling at her via FaceTime.
Aoki wrote, “My father is not well, for years, he needs help and won’t accept that he refuses to acknowledge he is not himself. He has threatened and bullied my sister, my grandma, he has harassed my grandma in the middle of the night in poor health, send a man to my sisters apartment at 2am to scare her. He lashes out at ANYONE who does not say ‘oh Russell everything is fine.’ Well it’s not fine. If ‘I never get a fashion job again’ like he threatens, I’ll be a lawyer I guess and work in criminal Justice. Sure I love my job but if he takes it away from me I won’t die. You don’t threaten my sister and grandma and mother and say “who’s gonna believe you I’m Russell Simmons nobody thinks I’m crazy” well he is.”
Aoki’s videos are heartbreaking – she’s clearly torn up about what Russell has done to her, her sister and her mother. Aoki and Kimora seem to describe a violent shift in Russell’s personality in recent years, and they’ve had to ban him from contacting them, so he finds alternative ways of harassing them (by harassing people around them). It’s really sick. What an absolute piece of garbage.
Kimora Lee Simmons discusses her ex Russell’s recent erratic behavior on IG live and how it’s affect the family. Love you Kimora 🥺💔 pic.twitter.com/mSryXA4boD
— SHEA FROM THE BAY (@SheaFromTheBay) June 19, 2023
Part 1: It’s been an interesting day for Russell Simmons. Earlier today, his ex wife Kimora aired him out on IG Live. And now, his daughter Aoki has taken to her live in tears, crying about how he allegedly treats her mother & sister. Russell was in the comments apologizing. pic.twitter.com/SIvrtL70YC
— theJasmineBRAND (@thejasminebrand) June 19, 2023
Cont … It’s been an interesting day for Russell Simmons. Earlier today, his ex wife Kimora aired him out on IG Live. And now, his daughter Aoki has taken to her live in tears, crying about how he allegedly treats her mother & sister. Russell was in the comments apologizing. pic.twitter.com/vcleiIONaG
— theJasmineBRAND (@thejasminebrand) June 19, 2023
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.
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- STARZ Red Carpet Event for POWER Final Season World Premiere Held at Madison Square Featuring: Russell Simmons Where: New YorkAlicia Snoop DoMyersKenneth Michael Burke, New York, United States When: 21 Aug 2019 **ONLY AVAILABLE FOR SPAIN & USA**,Image: 536934637, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: USA and SPAIN DIRECT SALES ONLY – Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries contact Avalon.red – sales@avalon.red London: +44 (0) 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles: +1 (310) 822 0419 Berlin: +49 (0) 30 76 212 251, Model Release: no, Credit line: WENN / Wenn / Avalon
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- Kimora Lee Simmons arrives at the World Premiere Of Disney’s ‘Mulan’ held at the El Capitan Theatre and Dolby Theatre on March 9, 2020 in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States.,Image: 563912024, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: WORLD RIGHTS – Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries contact Avalon.red – sales@avalon.red London: +44 (0) 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles: +1 (310) 822 0419 Berlin: +49 (0) 30 76 212 251, Model Release: no, Credit line: Xavier Collin / Image Press Agency / Avalon
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- WEST HOLLYWOOD, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, USA – NOVEMBER 03: Kimora Lee Simmons and daughter Ming Lee Simmons arrive at the 2022 amfAR Gala Los Angeles held at the Pacific Design Center on November 3, 2022 in West Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States.,Image: 735278434, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Pictured: Kimora Lee Simmons, Ming Lee Simmons, Credit line: Xavier Collin / Image Press Agency / Avalon
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- WEST HOLLYWOOD, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, USA – NOVEMBER 03: Kimora Lee Simmons arrives at the 2022 amfAR Gala Los Angeles held at the Pacific Design Center on November 3, 2022 in West Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States.,Image: 735278807, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Pictured: Kimora Lee Simmons, Credit line: Xavier Collin / Image Press Agency / Avalon
LOL! Her second husband “isn’t seen much” because he was extradited from Malaysia to the US in 2019 and has been under house arrest for four years. He was sentenced in the US to 10 years in prison for his role in looting a Malaysian development fund of billions of dollars used to finance lavish parties, a super yacht, and premium real estate. He still faces charges in Malaysia.
It’s not her fault.
And wasn’t he actually still married when they exchanged vows? The woman has maybe the worst picker ever….
Anyway, Kimora’s drama aside, Russell is a giant asshole and I feel so much for his daughters, who seem to be deeply traumatized by his behavior. I hope everyone is getting therapy.
He faked his divorce documents and even emails from his ex-wife to get her to marry him.
Such a total piece of trash.
Unbelievable. What a f*cking scumbag…
Did Kimora come out and support Jenny Lumet and the other women Russell is alleged to have raped? Did Oprah let him tell his side in some interview? This is a big story and a big deal and Russell, if he knows what’s best for him, would do well to just live privately and quietly in the Middle East and stop attacking his ex wife and children. But if he keeps at it the way he’s going, he’s going to Cosby himself into ruin. Justice for Jenny.
110%
Isn’t the third husband also a bigamist.
Kimora has only been married once legally. She was with the actor, Djimon Hounsou for quite awhile and then Tim Leissner who is a disgraced banker who stole billions in Malaysia. They have been split for a long time. She has a young son with him. He’s in BIG trouble all over the world and admitted to lying to Kimora and another woman about being divorced.
I’m so hurt for Aoki, she really stood by that man, defended him during the Oprah investigation into him allegedly rapping women… it’s crazy for a parent to rant to a kid about his court case with their mother n call her names n worse her mental health. I hope she is okay because she is my favourite in that family 🩷
I saw this last night and I believe them and Russell blaming Kimora for the status of his relationship with his kids so such typical abusive move.
When your daughter is asking for space because she is tired of you putting her and her sister in the Middle of the issues you have with her mother and saying she is a B*tch just like her mother when you are mad at her don’t be surprised when she wants nothing to do with you.
First, I want to congratulate Aoki on her graduation. Getting through college is hard enough as it is, to do so by twenty, wow. Congratulations!
Second, she calls him unwell. I’m wondering if this a mental health issue or if he’s truly a piece of garbage. He’s 70.
Third, if all he’s facing is lawsuits there was no reason for him to leave the country. He’s guilty af. (Yes, I know that makes him a complete piece of shit, but my above statement was in regards to his relationship with his ex and kids).
Fourth, was Aoki talking about a lawsuit btw him and Kimora or about the SA lawsuits and she didn’t side with him?
She says she doesn’t know his mental state, but feels he is unwell because this not the father she knew as a child.
It’s the lawsuit between him and Kimora.
Thanks @coco
Russell Simmons is an abuser and a predator. He started dating Kimora when she was a sophomore in HIGH SCHOOL. A grown established man groomed and married a child, they later fudged to dates when they met. He not only a serial abuser he has abused the black community with his failed and predatory Rush debit cards. He’s an awful man who should have to deal with what his done to his victims, especially to his daughters and former wife.
This right here. I’m old enough to remember when they got married and I thought it was crazy then. Kimora was so young.
Yes I remember a story that Russell met Kimora when she was 13 and I do believe he was 35 and he said she going to be his wife.
@MF
Russell friendship with the Dump makes sense and I wonder if Russell used to hangout with Jeffrey Epstein too.
Everything you just said Girl_ninja! He is a predator. He preys on the Black community, he preyed on Kimora when she was a teenager, and now he is terrorizing his own daughters. I believe the women who say he raped them. I hope they get justice. Also, he is friends with Trump – birds of a feather…
I saw several videos about this and it’s so sad to see. These women have clearly been through it! There have been whispering about many of RS’ problematic behavior over many many years. From “meeting” Kimora when she was 16 yrs old, his alleged preference for other women much younger than him (not minors), that fiasco aka the Rush card and his possibly and alleged unethical dealings in the music/entertainment when he was a huge mogul. His impromptu self exile to Bali was very suspicious.
Kimora was a staunch defender of his for a years, although not many people believed that they got together after she turned 18. I think that RS has forgotten that Kimora was with him for a long time and knows a lot of his secrets. I always worry when the holders of others’ secrets threaten to reveal them bc it’s truly dangerous. But if people feel harassed and/or threatened…
Rev. Run (Run-DMC) your brother obviously needs help. Tell everything!
It’s so disturbing to hear the abuse Kimora and her daughters have been subjected to. Praying for them all. Russell Simmons has always been a misogynistic piece of sh!t. He’s always believed his own hype. I hope Karma comes for him in a big way.
Remember: Russell Simmons is/was good friends with Donald Trump. Simmons has criticized Trump’s behavior while in-office but still, they’ve been friends for like 30 years. Tells you *everything* you need to know about him.
I’m glad they are speaking out. How terrifying and exhausting. I remember when Kimora married Russell and the age was troubling even with the untrue timeline. Of course Bali is part of Indonesia which has no extradition, so why move there if he is innocent of his crimes? He is a disgusting human being. I hope this public outing of him by his daughters gives them more protection.
Been loathing this man for awhile now. For all the reasons stated above and then personally, and pettily, for having to work at Kay Jewelers during/post college and sell his trash sterling silver bracelets and crucifix necklaces. Straight trash.
What a horrible situation. I remember Aoki went to Harvard at the age of 16 and graduated at age 20. I’m surprised she went into modelling as I thought she was a major academic scholar and would pursue a Master’s and PHD. She’s so smart, she could do so much. I hope she thinks about it. Law School for her would be amazing too. She’s young, so I guess she has time.
Lets not forget that Russell also got with Kimora when she was a teenager.
Wow, what a piece of garbage. I hope the women of Bali are safe from this predator. I hope everything he inflicted on others comes back to him.
They are not Indonesia,Thailand, Dominican Republic and more are where men go to get under age girls.
@Erika Indonesia has some very strict laws regarding sex outside of marriage. Bali has local level councils that also enforce community expectations around religion, morality, etc. Thankfully, I think the local female population in Bali is likely much better equipped to deal with him than some other Asian countries.
This sounds horrible for her and for her family but long before these outings, she was a horrible person back in her modeling and post-modeling days. She practically invented the ‘don’t you know who I am’ attitude and tales of her mistreating staff and anyone in her vicinity were pretty common. This doesn’t in anyway diminish her husbands bad behavior but endless selfishness and an entitled mindset seem to be a characteristic they have in common.
I don’t condone anyone treating servers or staff like trash but she was groomed since the age of 13 by an extremely connected, powerful, and wealthy man. From what I’ve read, during her time with Simmons she was largely kept in a bubble of his influence and opulence. I’m not excusing it, but without emotional maturity and normal, healthy development I can see how that could go to a young woman’s head and create a distorted view of the world.
I hope that she’s made a lot of personal strides in terms of how she treats people. It DOES seem like she’s done a good job with her kids so she must have learned something.
This is really heartbreaking and seeing some of the comments on Twitter blaming them and saying how they should just shut up because they’re wealthy is infuriating. It’s amazing how much emotional abuse people are expected to take from their family members, then they get attacked for speaking up when they’ve had enough. What a disgusting man.
Kimora has only been married once legally. She was with the actor, Djimon Hounsou for quite awhile and then Tim Leissner who is a disgraced banker who stole billions in Malaysia. They have been split for a long time. She has a young son with him. He’s in BIG trouble all over the world and admitted to lying to Kimora and another woman about being divorced.
Kimora is fire in that first photo.
I know Russell personally. I have spent a LOT of time with him. They speak the truth. He has a personality disorder, he is a narcissist. I have observed his behaviour for years and he’s a classic case. Everyone kisses his ass because of his status. Everyone, even the feminist women supporting yogi healer BS coaches in Bali. He is a piece of work but he is VERY smart and he plays his hand well, extremely manipulative, extremely charming. I am just here to say BELIEVE THEM. They are telling the truth.