3 women say mogul Russell raped them

NINE WOMEN accused Def Jam co-founder Russell Simmons of sexual misconduct Wednesday, alleging he used his position as a music mogul and wellness empresario to orchestrate assaults.

The allegations against the hip hop designer stem from encounters as far back as the 1980s — and as recent as 2014.

Some of the women told the Los Angeles Times that Simmons, 60, used his West Hollywood yoga studio, Tantris, as a way to get women into vulnerable situations.

They questioned the authenticity of Simmons’ spiritual awakening in the latter part of his career, saying its purpose was to make him money and attract women.

“Not only are you a multimillionaire, now you claim to be a teacher for yoga, you create and open up a sacred space. That’s a whole ’nother level,” Karen Russell, a former general manager of Tantris, told The Los Angeles Times.

Natashia Williams-Blach, an actress who appeared in Simmons’ film, “How to Be a Player,” said that in 1996 he tried to force her head to his crotch after she attended a hot yoga class, at his invitation. She was 18 years old.

Singer Tina Baker told The New York Times that Simmons — who was her manager — lured her to his home for a business meeting in the early 1990s but raped her instead. The trauma of the assault ruined her career, she said.

Simmons stepped down from running his companies last month after two women accused him of sexual assault.

“These new stories range from the patently untrue to frivolous and hurtful claims,” he said. “I want to restate categorically what I have said previously: I have never been violent or abusive to any women in any way at any time in my entire life.”