In the rise of the #MeToo movement, men and women have been inclined to share their own experiences with sexual misconduct and assault in Hollywood. From Paul Marciano to Brett Ratner, more than 130 public figures have been accused of sexual misconduct in the last eight months — including music mogul Russell Simmons and “Extra” host, AJ Calloway.
In an article published by The Hollywood Reporter, author-turned-domestic-violence activist Sil Lai Abrams revealed that both Simmons and Calloway sexually violated her in two separate incidents, spanning 12 years apart.
With Simmons, Abrams claimed it all started when she moved to New York in 1988 at the age of 18, where she worked as a hostess for some of the clubs Simmons frequented. The following year the two met and later formed a sexual relationship. In 1992, she worked for Simmons as an executive assistant at Def Jam Recordings but then moved back to her hometown in Florida the same year.
Although the two initially kept in contact, time got between them until Abrams moved back to New York with her 3-year-old son in 1994. Upon her arrival, she met the music mogul for drinks — as friends.
During their encounter, Abrams said Simmons consumed sparkling water. By the time 3 a.m. hit, she said she could barely stand, so she asked Simmons to have his driver take her home. Instead, she said he brought her to his penthouse where she passed out, fully clothed on his bed. Although she was barely conscious, she said she watched as Simmons approached her with nothing on but a condom. Despite her refusal, she said he flipped her on her stomach and raped her. When it was over he told her to leave.
Feeling ashamed, the following morning Abrams said she tried to commit suicide and called Simmons, saying, “I hope you know for the rest of your life that you made me kill myself.” However, via his lawyer, Simmons denied ever receiving that call, as well as the allegations.
As for Calloway, Abrams said the incident occurred in 2006 while she was working in New York as an event planner. The activist recalled a meeting with Calloway for drinks to recruit him for an event. At the time he was married and she was accompanied by a man she was then-dating. But still, Calloway showered her with compliments. Although she felt uncomfortable, she booked him anyway and the event was a success.
Weeks later, she said she called Calloway with a plan to start her own nonprofit organization, but instead, he tried to turn the conversation into a sex talk. Although once again, put off, she still hoped he would help. On December 26, 2006, the two reconnected again for drinks. When it was time for her to leave he offered her a ride. During the car ride, she said he asked her intimate questions and even displayed his erect penis, which prompted her to tell him to “do us both a favor and put that away.” But since she was so close to home, she decided to stay in the car. When he pulled up to her building she said he started kissing and touching her, with his penis out again. She said he then tried to force her head into his lap, but she pulled away. Instead, she said he grabbed her hand and put it on his penis and stroked it until he ejaculated. Shortly after, she said he called to apologize.
Although Abrams already disclosed her sexual assault in her 2007 book, “No More Drama,” she didn’t use real names. Instead, she described Simmons as “Ronald,” who was “well known for only dating models and for his hard-partying lifestyle funded by his very successful record label,” and Calloway as “well-spoken B-list celebrity Ray.” However, according to a friend of the author, she shared both incidents with her. In fact, she even filed a report against Calloway, who was arrested. Calloway denied the allegations and cooperated with the police and the case was eventually dismissed the following year. The host maintained that the allegations were false.
Ten years later after the Brett Ratner allegations surfaced, Abrams felt inclined to share her truth about Ratner’s good friend Simmons, as well as Calloway. As a result, she brought her claims about both Simmons and Calloway to the attention of MSNBC host Joy Reid. However, after a long drawn-out vetting process, MSNBC decided to pass on the story.
“When MSNBC pursues any investigative story our mission is always to be as thorough as we can, to scrutinize sources and corroborate information before we report,” the network said in a statement about the situation. “Anything else falls short of our journalist standards,” adding that it offered seasoned investigative journalists to help Reid with the story but “certain aspects did not meet its standards.”
Abrams felt the network tried to silence her.
“They took away my voice,” she said. “I want people to understand how incredibly challenging this is, with a story like mine that’s highly sourced, with me doing this [advocacy] work in the public arena. And I can’t get my story out there? If I didn’t have those things, let’s be very clear, no one would know about this today. I’m speaking out for all the other women who have been silenced, to let them know it’s not their fault.”
