Russell Simmons Denies Coercing 17-Year-Old Model Into Oral Sex, Penetration w/o Consent

Russell Simmons

Russell Simmons Denies Coercing 17-Year-Old Model Into Oral Sex, Penetration w/o Consent

Model Keri Claussen Khalighi has accused music mogul Russell Simmons of sexual misconduct. She alleges that the incident happened back in 1991 when she was 17 years old.

In a report released on Sunday (November 19th), Khalighi says that Simmons coerced her to perform oral sex and later penetrated her without her consent in his New York apartment. She said the film producer and director Brett Ratner, who has also been accused by multiple women of sexual harassment, was present.

Khalighi said she asked Ratner, then a music video director and Simmons protege, for help. She stated,

I’ll never forget the look on his face. In that moment, the realization fell on me that they were in it together.

Simmons, now 60, has denied the allegations in a statement, which he shared to social media. He says everything that occurred between himself and Khalighi was completely consensual and with her

full participation.

He said in his statement,

I’m deeply saddened and truly shocked to learn of Keri’s assertions as to what happened over the course of that weekend. 

He also detailed his own support of the #MeToo movement and the “brave men and women who have spoken out over the past month.”

Simmons’ statement, issued through his attorney Eric W. Rose, also included three witness statements in his defense. Two were anonymous and one was from Simmons’ former assistant Anthony McNair, who said that he did not notice any visible signs of distress from Khalighi during that time.

The report also includes four additional allegations against Ratner, who was previously facing at least six allegations of misconduct from women including actress Olivia Munn. His attorney, Martin Singer, has denied all allegations.

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