Russell Simmons Wants To Bring His Hip-Hop Musical 'The Scenario' To A Stage Near You
A woman said in a federal lawsuit filed Wednesday that Russell Simmons raped her at his Los Angeles home in 2016.
READ: Three Women Have Accused Russell Simmons Of Rape
Jennifer Jarosik, a documentary filmmaker, says in the lawsuit that the sexual assault took place at an August 2016 meeting at Simmons' home to discuss a film he had agreed to finance and co-produce.
Jarosik then alleges that Simmons propositioned her for sex upon arriving at his home and, upon saying no to him, was pushed onto Simmons' bed. Within the pursuit Simmons pushed Jarosik off his bed "and then [Simmons] pounced on her while she was still in shock and fear, and proceeded to rape her."
Jarosik told several friends about the incident at the time, including Martin Dunkerton, her film director, and Gene Lo, her editor. The documentary filmmaker is seeking $5 million in damages.
Simmons addressed the Jarosik's allegation in a statement through publicist Eric Rose, saying:
"I have enormous respect for the women’s movement worldwide and their struggle for respect, dignity, equality and power. I am devastated by any reason I may have given to anyone to say or think of me in the ways that are currently being described.""What I will not accept is responsibility for what I have not done," the statement continued. "Although I have been candid about how I have lived in books and interviews detailing my flaws, I will relentlessly fight against any untruthful character assassination that paints me as a man of violence."
Jarosik is now the sixth woman to allege sexual assault against Simmons. Speaking to the New York Times in December, three of the women — Drew Dixon, Toni Sallie, Christina Moore — recounted their experiences with Simmons and described him as being relentless with his harassment.
Source: New York Times
