An anonymous woman who is accusing Russell Simmons a 1988 sexual assault claims the Def Jam Recordings co-founder fled the United States and settled in Bali in an effort to avoid extradition. But Simmons insists that couldn’t be further from the truth.
The Hip Hop mogul has been on a spiritual sabbatical in Indonesia where he’s continuing his yoga studies and working on his personal growth. He’s traveled back and forth from Los Angeles to Bali multiple times to attend his child’s graduation and tend to other private matters.
The woman – who goes by Jane Doe in the lawsuit against Simmons – believes he left the country after she and several other women accused him sexual assault. She is suing Simmons for $10 million, but he sees it as nothing more than an attempt to gain notoriety for the attorneys handling the case.
“I have no intention getting in the mud with this woman or feeding her lawyers’ interest in gaining fame, space or ground into this incredibly lucrative practice extortion,” Simmons told HipHopDX. “People ask how could anonymous person seek fame. It’s the lawyer who is seeking fame and that’s why we are seeking sanctions against him.”
Simmons has maintained his innocence since the allegations started trickling in two years ago. In March 2018 — while in L.A. — TMZ asked Simmons about the accusations and he replied, “I don’t have a stitch violence in me. I would never hurt anybody. And I never had any violence in me. It’s a difficult time for everybody.”
Jane Doe is expected in court on Thursday (April 18).