Russell Simmons Calls out Oprah Winfrey over Upcoming Apple TV+ Documentary Featuring One of His Accusers

Russell Simmons penned a lengthy message for Oprah Winfrey in response to her upcoming documentary that shines the light on one of his accusers. Simmons allegedly sexual assaulted the woman featured in the film.

After 50 Cent blasted Oprah Winfrey for focusing her efforts in going after only Black men, one of whom is Russell Simmons, Simmons called out Winfrey for using one of his accusers in her upcoming documentary.

“Shocking how many people have misused this important powerful revolution for relevance and money."

WHY 50 CENT LASHED OUT AT WINFREY

Winfrey has tied up with Apple TV and filmmakers, Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering to produce a documentary focusing on sexual assault in the music industry. The film is reportedly centered around the testimony of Drew Dixon, one of several women who accused Simmons of sexually assaulting her.

In response to Winfrey’s project, 50 Cent lashed out at his longtime nemesis and accused her of crucifying Black men. In an Instagram post, he expressed his disbelief over the talk show host’s obsession with going after people of her own color.

Aside from Simmons, 50 Cent mentioned Michael Jackson as one of the Black men Winfrey seemed to side against. She famously interviewed the late star’s accusers, Wade Robson and James Safechuck and earned flak for voicing out her support for their film, "Leaving Neverland." Wade and Safechuck detailed in the documentary how Jackson molested them when they were young boys.

SIMMONS REACTS

With 50 Cent setting the tone, Simmons soon after responded with his own defense. His long message on Instagram accompanied a photo of him being interviewed by Winfrey during better times between them.

Simmons admits to being “a playboy” with a history of “an embarrassing number” of women and adds that he’s “guilty of exploiting, supporting, and making the soundtrack for a grossly unequal society.”

At the beginning of his message, Simmons acknowledged the OWN founder’s contributions in his life that are too many to enumerate. He also reminded her of what he has given her – “the gift of meditation and the groundbreaking book, “THE POWER OF NOW,” which he says they bonded over.

Having established what he viewed was a positive relationship between the two of them, Simmons then expressed his confusion over Winfrey’s decision to “single out” just him for her documentary.

Simmons admits to being “a playboy” with a history of “an embarrassing number” of women and adds that he’s “guilty of exploiting, supporting, and making the soundtrack for a grossly unequal society.” But he insists, “I have never been violent or forced myself on anyone.”

Simmons further questioned Winfrey’s use of three women for her documentary and reminded her that these women’s claims against him may not be used because they hurt people. He added that these 40-year-old claims are impossible to prove that they happened but that he has evidence to prove they didn’t happen.

“Shocking how many people have misused this important powerful revolution for relevance and money,” he concluded.

In spite his concerns, Simmons ended his message on a positive note by inviting Winfrey to work with him in “uplifting humanity” and putting to rest what he believes is an “old narrative.

THE EXPOSE

News of Simmons alleged abusive sexual encounters first came to light when the New York Times released an expose in 2017 featuring several women with stories of sexual abuse in the hands of the record executive. One of these women was Dixon who features in Winfrey’s documentary.

Simmons has denied these claims and even mentioned in his recent message to Winfrey that he has passed nine 3-hour lie detector tests proving his innocence.