Russell Simmons has filed a $20 million lawsuit against HBO and the creators of On the Record, claiming the 2020 doc defamed him and ignored key evidence that supported his denial of sexual misconduct allegations.
Filed in Manhattan civil court by attorney Imran Ansari, the suit accuses filmmakers Amy Ziering and Kirby Dick of pushing a “salacious and defamatory” narrative while ignoring statements and evidence from Simmons’ camp and high-profile backers.
“Despite voluminous support for Mr. Simmons in the form of credible information, persuasive evidence, witness statements, and calls for further investigation by notable members of the media, politics, and the civil rights movement, the defendants simply disregarded it, and released, and continue to re-release globally, a film that tremendously disparaged and damaged Mr. Simmons with salacious and defamatory accusations that he vehemently denies,” Ansari and fellow attorney Carla DiMare said in a joint statement.
The doc, which aired on HBO Max after a dropped deal with Apple and Oprah Winfrey, focuses on multiple women accusing the Def Jam co-founder of sexual assault. Simmons continues to deny all allegations.
HBO parent Warner Bros. Discovery hit back, standing by the filmmakers and calling Simmons’ claims “unfounded.”
Simmons is also demanding the doc be pulled from all HBO platforms, citing alleged republication overseas to circumvent the defamation statute of limitations.
