Russell Simmons has filed a defamation lawsuit seeking $20 million (£14.8 million) from the creators and distributors of On the Record.
The music mogul is taking legal action against HBO and the team behind the 2020 documentary, which explored allegations of sexual abuse made against him. He claims the film misrepresented him and left out his side of the story.
On the Record built upon earlier coverage from outlets such as the New York Times, the Hollywood Reporter, and the Los Angeles Times, which had reported extensively on multiple accusations against Simmons.
The documentary includes accounts from several women who allege that Simmons sexually assaulted them during the 1980s and 1990s, a period when he was highly influential as co-founder of Def Jam Recordings—the label that launched artists like LL Cool J, Public Enemy, and the Beastie Boys.
Russell Simmons has repeatedly denied all such claims. According to court documents filed in Manhattan, he argues that the filmmakers “disregarded and/or suppressed information” shared by his representatives.
Warner Bros Discovery, HBO’s parent company, has called the allegations in the lawsuit “unfounded”, as reported by Deadline.
Russell Simmons joins a growing list of prominent music industry figures, including producer Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs and R&B artist Chris Brown, who have faced several lawsuits related to sexual misconduct.
In the most recent case, Simmons was sued in February 2024 by an anonymous former Def Jam executive over an alleged rape dating back to the 1990s.