Russell Simmons Questions If Sexual Assault Accusers May Have “Thirst For Fame,” Says He’s Taken 9 Lie Detector Tests [Video]

Disgraced record producer Russell Simmons has sat down for a rare interview, hoping to clear his name once and for all.

The Def Jam co-founder spoke with “In Depth with Graham Bensinger,” where he addressed his sexual assault allegations head-on. Simmons confessed to having an intense past sexual appetite, which included endless “foursomes,” though he now calls his actions “egotistical.” Simmons says he slept with thousands of women and, at times, spoke poorly to them, suggesting this may be the reason for the many rape claims against him.

“I was in so many compromising situations that people can have a recollection from 30 or 40 years ago, and it can be different from my recollection,” he explained.

When speaking of his past foursomes, Simmons asked, “Could someone leave and feel hurt? Could someone leave and feel they wish they hadn’t? Could someone reimagine a story out of thousands of people? Could someone want notoriety in a market where people thirst for fame?”

Simmons was the subject of an explosive HBO documentary, “On the Record.” Songwriter Drew Dixon and artist Sheri Sher were just a few women who participated in the film, claiming Simmons raped them. To clear his name, the Phat Farm creator says he never forced anyone to have sex with him and even claims to have taken nine polygraph tests to prove his innocence. Despite his being “pushy” with women, he claims that does not mean he was “pushing” them to have sex.

When confronted with his victim’s allegations that he pinned them down and forced himself on him, Simmons says the women have slightly “changed the meaning” of the word rape.

“I don’t think anybody is saying I’m violent. Of course, I’ve been insensitive, but certainly never been forceful,” Simmons maintained.

There have been at least 18 women to come forward with claims of being forced into nonconsensual sex acts. Since many accusations have arisen, Simmons has sought solace in Bali, which coincidentally does not have an extradition treaty with the United States.