Russell Simmons faces lawsuit over filmmaker’s rape

American entrepreneur Russell Simmons is facing a lawsuit from a documentary filmmaker, Jennifer Jarosik, who has claimed he raped her at his home in 2016. He has denied the claim.

Jarosik has alleged that Simmons, who also co-founded the hip-hop music label Def Jam, invited her to his house on Doheny Drive here and then asked her to have sex. When she said no, he became aggressive and pushed her onto his bed, she has said in the suit, reports variety.com.

“Plaintiff tried to force the defendant to stay away from her and in doing so the defendant knocked plaintiff off his bed, and the plaintiff hit her head and then the defendant pounced on her while she was still in shock and fear and proceeded to rape her,” the lawsuit states.

Simmons stepped down from his business last year as allegations of sexual misconduct began to surface. He has been accused of rape or sexual harassment by numerous women though he has adamantly denied those claims.

His spokesman issued a statement on Wednesday denying the latest rape charge.

“This allegation is absolutely untrue. I look forward to having my day in court – where, unlike the court of public opinion, I will have the ability to make use of fair processes that ensure that justice will be done and that the full truth will be known,” Simmons said.

Jarosik says she first met Simmons in 2006 and they shared an interest in yoga and meditation. She says he offered to finance and co-produce a documentary that she was working on.

She says that after the rape, a decade later, she only told a few close friends and partially blamed herself for failing to fight Simmons off.

She is seeking at least $5 million in damages.

In his statement, Simmons said he has “respect for the women’s movement worldwide and their struggle for respect, dignity, equality and power”.

He said: “I have accepted that I can and should get dirt on my sleeves if it means witnessing the birth of a new consciousness about women. What I will not accept is responsibility for what I have not done. I have conducted my life with a message of peace and love.”

IANS