Russell Simmons Fights Back Against Defamation Lawsuit Filed by Former Executive

Def Jam Records co-founder Russell Simmons is firing back at a defamation lawsuit filed by a former executive, Drew Dixon, demanding that it be tossed.

Following being served by a process server while in Bali, Simmons retaliated by filing a motion with the court to dismiss with prejudice.

As per RadarOnline, Simmons argued for dismissal on the grounds that he did not specifically mention Dixon when addressing allegations of sexual assault against him in December 2023.

A defamation lawsuit pertains to a claim where a statement allegedly tarnishes an individual’s reputation, encompassing both written and spoken forms such as libel. Dixon’s lawsuit accuses Simmons of disparaging her and others’ sexual assault allegations during an interview on Graham Basinger’s podcast, “In Depth With Graham Basinger,” in December 2023.

Dixon, a former music executive, is one of several women who have accused Simmons of sexual assault. In 2020, Dixon released a documentary titled “On The Record,” which delves into the allegations against Simmons, featuring testimonies from 20 other women alleging similar experiences.

The 66-year-old refuted the allegations during his appearance on the Graham Basinger podcast, asserting that his sexual encounters were consensual. He stated, “I have never been forceful,” and raised questions about the motivations behind the allegations.

Dixon’s legal team contends that her lawsuit stems from Simmons’ deliberate and malicious efforts to tarnish her reputation. They allege that Simmons publicly ridiculed Dixon and labeled her a liar with the intent of discrediting her on a global scale.

As of the time of reporting, the court has not made a decision regarding Simmons’ motion.