Record producer Russell Simmons accused of rape

LOS ANGELES: Record producer Russell Simmons has been accused of rape.

The alleged victim, Alexia Norton Jones, is the granddaughter of a book publisher.

Jones has fi led a police report with the New York Police Department, from her home in Arizona, detailing the incident. Although her case fell outside the statute of limitations in New York for felonies, she wanted to stand with the other alleged victims of abuse by the music mogul and producer. Jones says she isn’t seeking any monetary damages.

In November 1990, she went on a date with Simmons. She recalls that they had a pleasant night out, which ended with the co- founder of Def Jam Recordings inviting her to see his new apartment in downtown Manhattan. There, Jones says, Simmons pinned her against a wall and raped her. “It was such a fast attack,” she told Variety. “He pulled my dress up. I must have said no seven to 10 times.”

After she left, distraught and in shock, Jones claims that Simmons continued to pursue her, calling her at home and approaching her at social events.

Jones, a 31-year- old aspiring model and actress at the time, was in the same social circle as Simmons. And Simmons was a friend of Jones’ father, Clarence Jones, who had served as an attorney and speechwriter for Martin Luther King Jr. After some years had passed, Jones forgave Simmons.

In total, more than a dozen women have accused Simmons of sexual assault or rape (some of these stories were uncovered by investigations from The Los Angeles Times and The New York Times).

I’m deeply saddened by this story from Alexia. At no time did she share these feelings about her first sexual encounter with me, which took place roughly 28 years ago. I have taken multiple lie detector tests that affirm I never sexually assaulted anyone. Alexia and I dated, were intimate and attended multiple events together after she alleges the incident occurred in 1990. I considered her a friend for all these years and continue to have a warm relationship with members of her family. Russell Simmons, record producer

Simmons, who has denied any wrongdoing, stepped down from his companies in November, after a guest column was published in The Hollywood Reporter by the screenwriter Jenny Lumet, in which she alleged that he sexually assaulted her in 1991.

Simmons has issued a statement to Variety, denying that he had assaulted Jones. “I’m deeply saddened by this story from Alexia,” Simmons said.

“At no time did she share these feelings about her fi rst sexual encounter with me, which took place roughly 28 years ago. I have taken multiple lie detector tests that affi rm I never sexually assaulted anyone. Alexia and I dated, were intimate and attended multiple events together after she alleges the incident occurred in 1990. I considered her a friend for all these years and continue to have a warm relationship with members of her family.”

(From left to right) Israeli actress Gal Gadot in her Wonder Woman costume visits Inova Children’s Hospital in Falls Church, Virginia, US on Monday in this photo obtained from social media • Rawson Marshall Thurber (left) and Dwayne Johnson attend the ‘Skyscraper’ New York Premiere at AMC Loews Lincoln Square on Tuesday in New York City and (left) Rupert Murdoch, chairman of News Corp and co-chairman of 21st Century Fox, and Jerry Hall arrive at the Sun Valley Resort of the annual Allen & Company Sun Valley Conference on Tuesday in Sun Valley, Idaho. Every July, some of the world’s most wealthy and powerful business people in media, finance, technology and political spheres converge at the Sun Valley Resort for the exclusive week-long conference. — Reuters/AFP photos

In total, more than a dozen women have accused Simmons of sexual assault or rape.