The same week that R. Kelly’s victims finally found justice, people who have suffered at the hands of other male celebrities have resurfaced their own stories in hopes of some similar results. Unfortunately, too many men in power have abused their positions in the entertainment world. Russell Simmons has been accused for years of being inappropriate with people. Amanda Seales has said her peace on their past interactions as well.
Russell Simmons is one of the leading figures in music. The pioneer executive helped found Def Jam Records with super producer Rick Ruben. The label would go on to discover the likes of LL Cool J, Run DMC, and The Bestie Boys. In later years, they were also home to Rihanna, Kanye West, and Ne-Yo. Simmons has remained tied to the company’s legacy but has moved on into various other fields, including fashion, finance, and self-help.
In 2012 a filmmaking team debuted a sexual assault documentary at Sundance titled “On The Record.” In it, they detailed years of allegations against Simmons. More than a dozen women came forward with stories of unwanted interactions with him. Unfortunately, the film would lose steam after Oprah Winfrey pulled out as an executive producer, sighting inaccuracies from one of the women in the movie.
By 2018, Simmons was in court battling some of the women who had rallied against him. One of them flat-out accused him of assault, with one seeking $10 million in her lawsuit. He released a statement on the lawsuits saying, “They have shocked me to my core as I have never been abusive or violent in any way in my relations with women.”
Amanda Seales says that she had an awkward exchange with Simmons that made her question his character several years ago. While she initially did not reveal his name, Seales says she took a meeting with a record executive who asked if they had ever been intimate. He then joked, “I would remember, right?” When asked her thoughts on Russell Simmons, Seales revealed he was the person who asked her the awkward question. Seales says it was hard to admit for her and she was not even assaulted. “That’s how the game is f* up,” she concluded.
