Russell Simmons Accused Of Sexually Assaulting 17-Year-Old As Brett Ratner Watched, Russell Denies Claims, Releases Statement

Earlier this month, a woman by the name of Keri Claussen Khaligh came forward with allegations against Def Jam Recordings mogul, Russell Simmons and entertainment businessman, Brett Ratner.

According to the report, Khaligh, who was 17 at the time, met the two men at a casting call. Following their initial encounter, the two reportedly took the young girl out to dinner and then back to Simmons’ apartment to show her some work they had been working on. However, shortly after, the woman said Simmons began to get aggressive, tearing off her clothes and making sexual advances as Ratner watched, despite her calls for help.
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Khaligh said Simmons then tried to force her to have sex with him but eventually settled for coerced oral sex, again as the then-up-and-coming music video director watched. Following the incident, the woman said she went to take a shower, as she was feeling “disgusting.” But, Simmons came into the shower and forced himself into her, but she quickly “jerked away,” and he left.
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Since then, however, both men have denied the allegations of sexual misconduct without consent. Simmons said in a statement that “Everything that occurred between Keri and me occurred with her full consent and participation,” adding that much of their night was spent with other people or in public. Ratner, on the other hand, said he could not recall the woman calling for help, but said he did not see the woman “protest” the events that took place.
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However, according to LA Times, six additional women have come forward with sexual misconduct allegations against Ratner. While others have named Ratner and Simmons as co-conspirators of sexual misconduct.
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In incidents that took place in 1994 and 2001, the two have been accused of working together to coerce women into sexual acts.
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Simmons has since addressed all of the allegations saying, “As a longtime social activist, I have applauded the strength of the men and women who have spoken out over the past month and made their voices heard regarding sexual assault and harassment.”
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“I am a supporter of the #MeToo campaign and the victims who were previously terrified to stand up and speak out against sexual misconduct. I completely and unequivocally deny the horrendous allegations of non-consensual sex against me with every fiber of my being,” he wrote.