Russell Simmons is firing back.
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The legendary Def Jam co-founder just hit HBO with a defamation lawsuit over On the Record, the 2020 documentary that details multiple sexual assault allegations against him.
In the suit, Simmons names HBO, their parent company Warner Bros. Discovery, and the film’s producers, accusing them of defamation, emotional distress, and invasion of privacy. He claims the doc left out crucial evidence—specifically, testimony from more than 20 witnesses who allegedly pushed back on the claims made in the film.
Simmons also says the higher-ups at WarnerMedia, including CEO John Stankey, had access to that information. He claims several civil rights leaders and members of Congress even stepped in, urging the network to review the evidence supporting his side—but their calls were ignored.
He name-drops Oprah in the lawsuit too, pointing to her public decision to walk away from the project and her comments about “inconsistencies in the accusations.”
Simmons adds that he passed nine straight polygraph tests—described in the suit as “CIA-grade”—and claims the filmmakers disregarded those results entirely.
Russell Simmons, who left the U.S. in 2018 and now lives in Bali, is seeking $20 million dollars.
