Russell Simmons Slammed With $5 Million Sexual Assault Lawsuit

Hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons has been slammed with a civil lawsuit after a woman accused him of rape. This is coming after at least five other women have accused him of rape or sexual assault.

Simmons denied the allegation in a statement, saying he looks forward to having his day in court “to make use of fair processes that ensure that justice will be done and that the full truth will be known.”

She alleges Simmons had asked her to sleep with him upon arriving at his L.A. home. After she said no, Simmons got aggressive and pushed her onto his bed, after which a scuffle began, landing her on the floor where she hit her head. She then goes on to add that Simmons pounced on her while she was still in shock and fear, and proceeded to rape her.

According to the lawsuit, Jarosik had disclosed this information only to a few close friends like Martin Dunkerton, her film director, and Gene Lo, her editor. It also claimed that the 37-year-old woman had felt somehow it was partially her fault since she was not strong enough to resist.

In reply to the $5 million lawsuit filed by the alleged victim, Russell Simmons issued a statement through publicist Eric Rose, calling Jarosik’s claim and other allegations against him “horrific accusations” that “shocked me to my core and all of my relations have been consensual.” He then added, “I have enormous respect for the women’s movement worldwide and their struggle for respect, dignity, equality, and power, I am devastated by any reason I may have given to anyone to say or think of me in the ways that are currently being described.”

New York City police had prior to now opened a preliminary investigation into sexual assault allegations against Simmons after seven other women had accused Simmons of rape or attempted rape that span the course of 10 years. Russell Simmons has had to step down from his company Def Jams records since the allegations started against him in November last year.