With the upcoming release of the documentary titled, “On The Record,” a film that showcases accusers claiming to have been sexually assaulted by Russell Simmons, his ex-girlfriend Katie Rost is standing up for him.
Speaking with Page Six, the former ‘Housewives’ star said, “I did want to offer a different point of view because sometimes I think it’s a pile on.”
Going into detail about her relationship with the entrepreneur, Rost, 39, explained that she remained close friends with Simmons, 62, until he and Kimora Lee Simmons divorced in 2009. It was after the two separated that Simmons and Rost became romantically involved, according to Page Six. Rost, who met Simmons in 2002, due to Kimora hiring her to model for her Baby Phat collection, never pursued a relationship because of his relationship with Kimora stating, “He was really sweet and very nice, but I was more focused on [Kimora].” Prior to their friendship, she was “warned” by other models that Russell had a reputation throughout the agency.
Despite those claims, the two began seeing each other with no strings attached for the beginning of their relationship.
“We took a few vacations together and spent some time getting to know each other a little bit more,” Rost said. “It wasn’t exclusive. He had other girlfriends.”
Rost, who at the time was offered a position at Global Grind, a hip-hop publication by Simmons, ultimately was able to find a working as well as a sexual relationship with Simmons that lasted about six months.
However, things took a turn when she caught him with Sports Illustrated Model Of The Year at that time, Julie Henderson. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
“I was, like, ‘Oh, this is not going to work,’” Rost explained. “I just didn’t really see myself with someone that old, and he was still a playboy and a player.”
Although the two separated, they remained good friends, keeping in contact a couple times throughout the year.
Fast Forward to 2016, Rost was going through a divorce and custody battle with her then-husband James Orsini, whom she accused of abuse (Orsini denied these claims). Rost reached out to Simmons for support, and he insisted that she share her story with the public.
“When I was going through all of that crap and all of the pain with coming forward as a survivor, Russell so strongly [said] to me, ‘Katie, you need to write about these things. You have to tell everyone what happened with this pain of your life,’” Rost recalled. “He was such a strong voice that it sort of took my breath away reading that he might go down in flames.”
As time would go on, several women would accuse Simmons of rape, alleging that the sexual abuse from the music executive took place in the 1980s. One accuser even claimed to have been raped by Simmons in 2016, however that case was thrown out by a judge, according to Page Six.
Rost stated that Simmons called her to ensure that he never did anything to harm her or that she felt was inappropriate during their time spent together.
“It seemed like he wanted to understand, and I think that he still does,” she explained. “I guess that’s something that struck me as very different than all of these other men that are going through this stuff.”
When Rost insisted that she never felt Simmons violated her in any way, he responded, “I feel like you’re giving me a pass. I’m not the greatest guy. I haven’t done everything right, and I’m really trying to figure out who I really am.”
Rost continued, “If you’re an overly sexual person or someone who comes on to people … I don’t think that means that you are a predator. I just wanted to say that I never felt that way about him. I did always feel like he was a womanizer – that he was someone who was going to come on to women, let you know that he wanted you – but there was never any aggressive or even using like a power position type of thing over at least, me for my situation.”
“On the record,” will premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, on Saturday, Page Six reports.
Simmons has repeatedly and “vehemently” denied all claims since the shocking allegations made headlines in 2017.
Speaking with The New York Times at that time, Simmons stated, “These horrific accusations have shocked me to my core, and all of my relations have been consensual. I have enormous respect for the women’s movement worldwide and their struggle for respect, dignity, equality, and power.”
Discover more from Baller Alert
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
