Nine women accuse hip hop mogul Russell Simmons of rape, sexual misconduct

Up to nine women have now accused hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons of raping them or indulging in sexual misconduct across 30 years.

These allegations were made in different reports by the New York Times and the Los Angeles Times.

The 60-year oldstepped down from his business roles on November 30, after allegations were first made by two women; former fashion model Keri Claussen Khalighi and screenwriter Jenny Lumet.

At the time, the Def Jam co-founder denied the claims, and expressed support for women who went public about instances of sexual misconduct.

After this week’s bombshells, Simmons again denied the claims and this time suggested he would take legal action.

Singer Tina B, a backup singer for Madonna and Bruce Springsteen, said that in the early 1990s, he raped her when he was her manager.

The New York Times said the account was confirmed by five people, including her ex-husband and therapist.

It suggested a pattern of behaviour where he used his position of power to prey on young women entering the music industry as artists or executives.

Baker said, “I didn’t have sex with a man for almost nine years. I went into a cocoon.”

Former music executive Drew Dixon said that when she was working at Def Jam as a talent scout, she was subject to sexually graphic phone calls and “regular” exposure of his genitals.

She put up with it because “I didn’t want to cut off my one conduit to having any hope of a career.”

In 1995 she finally quit Def Jam after he allegedly raped her in her Manhattan apartment.

She moved on to Arista Records where she says she was sexually harassed by its boss LA Reid. She left the music industry for good after that.

Reid was earlier this year forced out of his position as Chairman of Epic Records over sexual harassment claims by a one-time personal assistant.

Music journalist Toni Sallie, then of Black Radio Exclusive, said Simmons raped her after she was invited to his apartment for a party for his girlfriend. She arrived to find no one else was there.

Actress Natashia Williams-Blach, then 18, said that after a yoga class, he tried to force her to give him oral sex.

Hip-hop artist Sherri Hines of Mercedes Ladies said she was raped in 1983 after being invited to Simmons’ office. She was a teenager at the time.

According to Lisa Kirk, he followed her into a nightclub bathroom and exposed himself to her.

Massage therapist Erin Beattie said he exposed himself while giving him a massage in his hotel room in 2005.

Simmons insisted in a statement in the New York Times, “All my relations have been consensual.

“I have enormous respect for the women’s movement worldwide and their struggle for respect, dignity, equality and power.

“I have re-dedicated myself to spiritual learning, healing and working on behalf of the communities to which I have devoted my life.

“I have accepted that I can and should get dirt on my sleeves if it means witnessing the birth of a new consciousness about women.

“What I will not accept is responsibility for what I have not done. I have conducted my life with a message of peace and love.

“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.”

To the Los Angeles Times, Simmons said: “These new stories range from the patently untrue to frivolous and hurtful claims.

“I want to restate categorically what I have said previously: I have never been violent or abusive to any women in any way at any time in my entire life.”