Russell Simmons Sued by Drew Dixon for Alleging Sexual Assault Accusers Have “Thirst for Fame”

Russell Simmons has been sued for defaming the previous Def Jam Recordings government Drew Dixon, who accused him, in 2017, of sexual assault. The lawsuit cites a Graham Bensinger interview final December during which Simmons, who has denied assault allegations by Dixon and different girls, advised accusers would possibly “need notoriety available in the market the place folks thirst for fame.”

Dixon filed her lawsuit yesterday (February 15) in a New York state court docket. She alleges, within the lawsuit, that, in 1995, Simmons invited her to his residence to take heed to a demo CD, however proceeded to “violently rape her.” After leaving Def Jam for Arista Data, Dixon says L.A. Reid sexually assaulted her in 2001—a declare she pursued final November in a separate lawsuit.

The brand new lawsuit describes Dixon as “one among many ladies who whereas pursuing a profession within the music trade was disrupted, derailed, and broken for the remainder of her life on account of her horrible experiences by the hands of Mr. Simmons.” Greater than 20 girls have accused Simmons of sexual harassment or assault, it provides.

Talking out in regards to the assaults has “put [Dixon] again within the crosshairs of her abusers’ sphere of affect,” in accordance with the lawsuit. In the Graham Bensinger interview, Simmons claimed that solely six folks had leveled allegations, that accusers had “modified the that means” of rape, and that each one of his relationships have been consensual. He additionally insinuated that “there was maybe a collaboration” between accusers. The lawsuit argues that these claims “have the impact of speaking that Ms. Dixon was mendacity about Mr. Simmons being violent with Ms. Dixon,” damaging her fame each in music and “as an activist advocate on behalf of victims of intercourse abuse and harassment within the music and leisure trade.”

The lawsuit concludes, partly, “By casting aspersions on her credibility publicly amongst his highly effective cohort of fellow moguls, Mr. Simmons has made it inconceivable for Ms. Dixon to make a dwelling at a degree commensurate along with her expertise, monitor file, and coaching. Her fears of ostracization and retribution when she was first assaulted have been absolutely realized.”

Dixon is requesting “punitive and exemplary damages,” in addition to her prices related to the lawsuit. To be able to win, she might want to show her case “by a preponderance of the proof,” that means that the actual fact in dispute is extra possible than not.

In an announcement shared with Pitchfork, one among Drew Dixon’s attorneys, Sigrid S. McCawley, mentioned:

Ms. Dixon has taken sufficient abuse. Not solely was she violently raped by Russell Simmons—profoundly disrupting her private {and professional} life—however after she tried to maneuver ahead and heal, he then additional abused her by publicly proclaiming that she lied in regards to the rape in the hunt for “fame.” Mr. Simmons has used his public platform to re-traumatize and terrorize Ms. Dixon, and the time has now come to carry him accountable for his defamatory statements and to finish this cycle of abuse.

Pitchfork has additionally reached out to representatives for Russell Simmons for remark.

If you happen to or somebody you understand has been affected by sexual assault, we encourage you to succeed in out for help:

RAINN Nationwide Sexual Assault Hotline
http://rainn.org
1 800 656 HOPE (4673)

Disaster Textual content Line
SMS: Textual content “HELLO” or “HOLA” to 741-741