Russell Simmons Was Investigated For Sexual Battery In 2001

Russell Simmons Was Investigated For Sexual Battery In 2001

And yet another one…

Now that all of the sexual skeletons are falling out of producer Brett Ratner’s closet, a few are tiptoeing out of other industry heavy hitters that associate with him. And newly public info is now revealing that Russell Simmons was also accused of sexual misconduct, alongside Ratner, over 15 years ago.

According to Variety, The Beverly Hills PD investigated Brett Ratner and Russell Simmons in connection with a sexual battery claim back in 2001.

The victim, still unidentified, was a then-29-year-old woman. She filed a report at the police station on November 3 at 4:45 am, claiming that both Ratner and Simmons had held her against her will at Ratner’s home and both touched her without her consent. She said the incident occurred between 2 and 3 am that same morning.

Prosecutors ultimately declined to press charges in the case, due to insufficient evidence.

Russell Simmons responded to the story going public, stating that the allegations simply weren’t true, but he backs up the current movement of women exposing their truths:

“This is an important and critical time for the empowerment of women and men who have been harassed. I have been a public figure for all of my adult life. And when you are in that arena over decades, you can find yourself in a position where you are vulnerable and susceptible to claims that are untrue.”

Yikes. Well, it seems to all be water under the bridge now…but these days you never know exactly who’s next when it comes to harassment allegations.

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