You don’t support your family. Instead, you stand on the sidelines, scream, and throw tantrums like a spoiled brat when things don’t go your way.
It’s only getting worse. It seems 2023 is indeed the year of truth, with Kimora Lee and her daughters speaking out against Russell Simmons. This man has done terrible things to me, and I’m exhausted. I never imagined I’d see the day when Kimora and Aoki would rightfully call out Russell Simmons, especially since they defended him when other women exposed his misdeeds. But it looks like the day of reckoning has arrived, and they chose Father’s Day weekend to reveal his wrongdoings with undeniable proof.
Don’t attack my kids. Don’t comment on what happens in this house, because if you want to, we can all get into it. As I’ve said, I like receipts—I have receipts. I’ve been collecting them, building my case. So if you want it, just let me know. Reach out and tell me you want it. I have more. Please, leave us alone. Well, we all appreciate a good batch of receipts here.
For those who don’t know how this whole drama started, it began on Father’s Day when Kimora Lee Simmons’ daughter, Ming Lee, posted a heartfelt message congratulating Kimora for holding it down for them. Kimora shared the post, which apparently rubbed Russell Simmons the wrong way. He implied that he’s not involved in his daughters’ lives because Kimora doesn’t allow it and that she’s brainwashed the girls into hating him. Russell even posted a message saying, “Stop telling fathers they should have fought harder to see their children and start asking mothers why he had to fight at all.”
Well, Kimora wasn’t having any of it. She went on Instagram Live and laid it all out, accusing Russell of being mentally abusive and pleading with him to stop attacking her and their children. Kimora pointed out that, just like many people have said over the years, she was way too young when she got involved with Russell. She said, “I was a very young, um, probably too young, bride. So I had these kids very early.” Despite that, she’s been the one doing all the heavy lifting with their kids. According to Kimora, she’s also been supporting Russell financially for the past ten years. She even claimed to have receipts showing she spent millions to help him pay his bills, support his businesses, and cover his failed ventures. And while she was doing all this, Russell was nowhere to be found in Ming’s and Aoki’s lives. For example, he didn’t attend either of his daughters’ graduations, and he didn’t even send a gift or a note to congratulate them.
The part that really got to me was when Kimora talked about Russell hitting rock bottom and allegedly sending himself flowers to make it look like they were from her, when they weren’t. She said, “You do crazy things, like sending yourself flowers, taking a picture, posting it on Instagram, and telling everyone I sent them. I have receipts for all of this. I even have documents from your office showing you sent yourself flowers without my knowledge.”
According to Kimora, Russell’s social media posts portraying a close relationship with his kids are misleading because behind the scenes, he allegedly harasses and insults them regularly. She mentioned they blocked him long ago due to this behavior, despite his public persona of peace. Aoki also spoke out on Instagram, sharing her experiences and exposing her father for his alleged mistreatment.
Others close to Russell have noticed a significant change in his behavior, describing him as lashing out at people and becoming a different person. There’s speculation that something might be wrong mentally—perhaps related to age or possibly bipolar disorder—but the consensus is that he’s not the same person he once was.
During her live session, Aoki opened up about the long-standing harassment and verbal abuse she’s endured from Russell. She shared a heartbreaking series of text messages on her social media, spanning several years, which vividly illustrated the mistreatment she’s faced. One particularly alarming post included screenshots of Russell using offensive language and accusing Kimora of financial wrongdoing, which seemed connected to his financial struggles over the years.
Aoki also recounted how Russell would frequently call her to vent about his legal issues, often unleashing his frustration with profanity-laden tirades. She expressed deep concern over his behavior, pointing out instances where he threatened to derail her career in fashion by blocking opportunities for her. Aoki also shared incidents where Russell had threatened her sister and grandmother, painting a troubling picture of his volatile behavior.
Furthermore, Aoki described feeling targeted by Russell’s outbursts, especially over legal matters she had no involvement in. She emphasized the emotional toll of his constant anger and shouted accusations, which she found deeply unfair. Concerned about his mental state, she speculated that Russell might be experiencing a mental health crisis or showing signs of dementia, noting his increasingly erratic behavior and apparent disconnection from reality, even towards his own children.
“You know what? I’ve got screen recordings and voice memos that just don’t sound like a normal human being. He’s shouting and screaming—it’s like something out of a horror movie. Honestly, I think there’s something mentally going on there. I used to be really close to my dad, so I can’t explain it any other way.”
Russell did apologize during Aoki’s live session, but a lot of people online aren’t buying it, to put it politely. For many, this moment was a long time coming, especially given how much support Kimora and their daughters gave Russell despite years of accusations. Back in 2017, The New York Times ran a story where several women accused Russell of serious misconduct.
“I didn’t tell many people about what happened with Russell. He just grabbed me, and I kept saying no. I felt completely powerless in that moment.”
One person who bravely shared her story was Drew Dixon, who spoke out publicly. Hired by Russell as Director of A&R for Def Jam Recordings in the early ’90s, Dixon described enduring harassment and, in 1995, being assaulted at his apartment. She left the company not long after. Screenwriter Jenny Lumet also spoke up in a powerful letter in The Hollywood Reporter in November 2017. Lumet described how Russell offered her a ride home but instead took her to his apartment against her wishes, where she hoped to stay calm until she could safely leave.
When faced with the allegations, Russell’s response was, “I don’t have a violent bone in my body. I would never harm anyone.” But many questioned his prolonged stay in Bali—was it a deliberate move to avoid confronting the accusations, exploiting the lack of extradition arrangements with the US?
Twenty women courageously shared their accounts of Russell’s misconduct, recounting instances of physical, emotional, and verbal harassment. For Kimora and Aoki to come forward may not shock many; what surprises is the delay in their disclosures. Russell’s defiant assertion—”There are countless others who support me, an entire army.”—sparked a fierce backlash on social media, with thousands joining in condemnation.
Do you believe there was a delay in exposing Russell? What are your thoughts on Kimora and Aoki sharing their experiences? I’d love to hear your perspective in the comments below.
