Ten Women Have Now Accused Russell Simmons Of Sexual Assault Or Harassment

Russell Simmons

Four more women have come forward to accuse music producer Russell Simmons of sexual assault. In what are becoming excruciating reads in the New York Times, former Def Jam Records employee Drew Dixon, former music journalist Tonie Sallie and performer Tina Baker allege that Russell Simmons raped them in encounters that span a period from 1988 to 2014.In a separate report published Wednesday in The LA Times, performer Sherri Hines alleged that Simmons raped her around 1983.

Simmons has responded: "I have re-dedicated myself to spiritual learning, healing and working on behalf of the communities to which I have devoted my life. 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," Simmons said in a statement to the New York Times on Wednesday. “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. Although I have been candid about how I have lived in books and interviews detailing my flaws, I will relentlessly fight against any untruthful character assassination that paints me as a man of violence.”

Because the Salma Hayek Harvey Weinstein op-ed is waiting to be posted, and I just read that PBS has suspended Tavis Smiley after conducting a private investigation, I have nothing more to say about Russell Simmons behaving badly. Oh, and I must update Trump's attack on Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand. Tracking all these guys is a full-time job these days.