Baller Alert broke the story of the vacation photos said to show NFL safety Kerry Rhodes with a man, and we have now spoken with Russell “Hollywood” Simpson, who Rhodes has described as his assistant. Simpson says he is Rhodes’ ex boyfriend. Rhodes has denied being gay and has said the man in the photos is his assistant. Baller Alert has not independently verified either account.
What Simpson told Baller Alert
Simpson said he met Rhodes about a year and a half ago when he went to Arizona to interview for an assistant job. He said he moved into Rhodes’ home, that the two became close, and that they were in a relationship for about a year while Rhodes played for the Arizona Cardinals. He said Rhodes initiated it.
Simpson said he did not leak the first set of photos, though he said Rhodes knew photos were being taken. He said he is not a jilted ex. He is upset, he said, because Rhodes denied the relationship publicly instead of staying quiet. In his words, “I’m not going to cover for Kerry.”
On the breakup, Simpson said it was not a bad split at first but that it “turned bad” after the denial. He also said Rhodes appears in the clips from his reality show, and that he has photos and text messages from the relationship.
Simpson also said Rhodes was generous during the relationship, taking him on trips and buying him gifts, including an Infiniti truck.
Rhodes’ position
Rhodes, a free agent, has said he is not gay and that the man in the photos is his assistant. He has not responded to Simpson’s claims in this interview.
This is a developing story and Baller Alert will keep you posted.
