Screen shot 2018 06 28 at 1 16 07 pm
Source: Youtube screenshot
Sil Lai Abrams Accuses A.J. Calloway and Russell Simmons of Sexual Assault
\u201cSince November 2017 I have fought to have my #MeToo story told. @kimmasters of @THR finally did what NBC would not. Thank you. https://t.co/Tm4Yeb96Nq\u201d— Sil Lai Abrams AKA Alecto ALT: A Woman Finding \u262e\ufe0f (@Sil Lai Abrams AKA Alecto ALT: A Woman Finding \u262e\ufe0f) 1530192049
Sil Lai Abrams reveals past instances of sexual misconduct with Russell Simmons and A.J. Calloway.
Author and journalist Sil Lai Abrams has come forward with accounts of being sexually assaulted by Russell Simmons and A.J. Calloway, "Extra" host and former host of BET’s 106 & Park.
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In a new interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Abrams says the #MeToo movement galvanized her to reveal the truth within portions of her 2007 book, No More Drama: Nine Simple Steps To Transforming a Breakdown into a Breakthrough, that concealed Simmons' and Calloway's names. Abrams alleges Simmons raped her in 1994, an occurrence that left her depressed and suicidal years later. She also says A.J. Calloway assaulted her in 2006, exposing himself and attempting to push her head down on his lap.
Abrams says years later, Simmons apologized to her. Calloway was arrested and charged with forcible touching and attempted sexual misconduct, but the charges were dropped in November 2007.
Both men deny the allegations.
READ: Bill Cosby Found Guilty On All Charges In Sexual Assault Trial
Calloway is a host on the entertainment show Extra, which is produced by Warner Bros. and airs in major markets on NBC owned-and-operated stations.
Abrams details how she attempted to tell her story as early as November 2017, recording a segment with with MSNBC’s Joy Reid, but the recording was derailed. Reid accused NBC’s legal department of “slow-walking the story with idiotic requests.”
"They took away my voice," Abrams told THR. "I want people to understand how incredibly challenging this is, with a story like mine that's highly sourced, with me doing this [advocacy] work in the public arena. And I can't get my story out there? If I didn't have those things, let's be very clear, no one would know about this today. I'm speaking out for all the other women who have been silenced, to let them know it's not their fault."
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
