Russell Simmons has been accused of sexual misconduct by more than a dozen people, but his difficulties seemed to intensify during Father’s Day weekend when his ex-wife and daughter took to social media to accuse him of verbal abuse and to broadcast the family’s strife.
Kimora Lee Simmons recently shared a series of Instagram stories about his alleged abuse.
“No one should live like this. Nobody’s child. “This is abuse,” she stated on her Instagram story, alongside a screenshot of text messages their daughter Aoki sent her father: “You were putting so much anger and rage on me with every phone call.” “Cursing, screaming, and God knows what else,” one of the texts said.
A Summary Of Russell Simmons’ Alleged Mistreatment
The claims against Simmons were the topic of a 2020 HBO documentary titled “On the Record.” “On the Record” follows one of Simmons’ accusers, ex-Def Jam employee Drew Dixon, as she makes the difficult decision to come forward with sexual assault charges in The New York Times in late 2017.
In the Times report, she claims that Simmons, her then-boss at Def Jam Recordings, raped her in his Manhattan apartment in 1995 when she was 24.
Following this and other charges, Simmons stood down from his enterprises in 2017 and relocated to Bali, Indonesia, which has no extradition treaty with the United States. (The allegations also fall outside of New York’s seven-year statute of limitations for sexual assault, so prosecutors cannot seek criminal charges.)
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“While few allegations of sexual abuse result in criminal conviction of the perpetrator,” writes Jeglic, “for those who are in the public eye, these allegations impact how the public and their families view them.”
What Kimora Lee Simmons, Children, Can Do From Here
Relationships fall apart in the aftermath of such charges, particularly when families turn on those implicated. “What we know about those who perpetrate sexual violence is that they can be viewed as upstanding members of the community, good parents and spouses who also perpetrate abuse,” Jeglic adds.
It’s critical to avoid connecting with someone who is angry once the family dynamics have changed. This may result in an increase in abuse, “but if there is no engagement, it will decrease over time,” Jeglic adds. “However, it is upsetting when a loved one or someone you care about acts in this manner. It’s difficult for a child to grasp how a parent can treat them in such a way.”
“Setting boundaries for an adult child would be important so that they can protect their emotional well-being because if not, it will continue to potentially cause anxiety and can cause more challenges,” explains Janie Lacy, a psychotherapist. They should also be on the lookout for guilt trips or parents who try to play the victim.
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Speaking Out Also Puts Simmons And Her Children In Danger
“Those who speak out about abuse publicly often face public scrutiny, victim-blaming, disbelief, and other silencing and minimizing behaviors,” says Laura Palumbo, communications director of the National Sexual Violence Resource Center. “How we talk about abuse issues matters.”
If you are a victim of domestic violence, the National Domestic Violence Hotline (800-799-7233) allows you to chat privately with trained advocates online or by phone. They can assist survivors in developing a plan to ensure their own and their children’s safety.
Conclusion
Russell Simmons’ Father’s Day weekend was clouded by charges of abuse, as his daughter and ex-wife, Kimora Lee Simmons, resorted to social media to accuse him of emotional and verbal abuse, years after allegations of sexual harassment and abuse were made public against the Def Jam executive.