Last week Oprah Winfrey dropped out of an upcoming Russell Simmons documentary featuring former Def Jam employee and alleged sexual assault victim Drew Dixon [click here if you missed that].
Drew speaks out ahead of the unnamed film's premier at Sundance...
Drew tells CBS This Morning,
"This is violently tackled and raped — while saying no and fighting and crying. I literally worked for him. He was ordering me a car, and he told me to come upstairs and pick up a demo. I thought I would be in his apartment for five total minutes. That's it, and he showed up naked, wearing a condom, and tackled me to his bed, while I screamed and fought and said, 'No,' and cried. That's rape."Two other accusers, Sil Lai Abrams and Alexia Norton Jones, also shared their Russell Simmons rape stories [go here to read the accounts].
Simmons released the following statement vehemently denying the claims
"I have issued countless detailed denials of the false accusations against me, including pages of sworn witness testimony including family members, clergy, journalists and mutual friends who were present at every stage. These denials have been validated by my passing 9 prosecution-grade lie detector tests. I have also provided sworn statements and pointed out fatal flaws and inconsistencies in written accounts, some published in their own books, to reputable media organizations which have acted responsibly.
I have admitted to being a massively unconscious 'playboy' which today is appropriately titled 'womanizer.' Continuing to live my life honorably as an open book for decades, devoid of any kind of violence against anyone, as has been documented and examined in detail worldwide since the very early days of hip hop, which is my life's testimony and work. What I won't do is engage in a shootout of attacks and counter-attacks. The social change from today's activism is more important to the world my daughters will inherit than any dirt from false accusations from nearly 40 years ago.
My life as an entrepreneur, yogi and fighter for new and diverse voices, as well as the faith placed in my work by millions around the world, has been a force for good and will continue to be as long as I'm able to serve the communities I love and cherish."
