A-Trak blasts Russell Simmons over sex crimes allegations

The Canadian DJ A-Trak on Friday is calling on hip hop mogul Russell Simmons, who is accused of raping or harassing 12 different women, to ‘be a man, dude.’

A-Trak criticized Simmons for his #NotMe post on Instagram on Thursday, where he vehemently denied the allegations against him and promised to prove his accusers wrong.

Simmons has said the results of a lie detector test show that he did not sexually assault model Keri Claussen Khalighi.

An image obtained by TMZ purports to show taking the polygraph Wednesday in the Los Angeles area which Russell’s camp says was administered by a national leader in the field of polygraphing.

‘The thought of Russell Simmons taking a polygraph is so wack. He is more concerned with preserving his reputation than acknowledging and inspecting the hurt that he brought to many women,’ A-Trak wrote on Twitter.

The Canadian DJ A-Trak on Friday is calling on hip hop mogul Russell Simmons (above), who is accused of raping or harassing 12 different women, to ‘be a man, dude’

The Canadian DJ A-Trak (left) on Friday is calling on hip hop mogul Russell Simmons (right), who is accused of raping or harassing 12 different women, to ‘be a man, dude.’

‘He probably believes his own lies, too. Be a man dude.’

A-Trak tweeted that Simmons ‘dresses like a 5-year-old’ and ‘a toddler.’

‘I obviously respect Russell’s contributions to hip hop, but it’s important to separate someone’s achievements with their own person.

‘I always suspected there was something off about a dude who dresses like a 5 year old. Mans dresses like a toddler.’

A-Trak then wrote: ‘FOH with that #NotMe bulls**t. Do more yoga.’

‘The #MeToo moment is so important. Not just for society to finally acknowledge the insane extent of institutionalized sexism, the amount of trauma that women have had to endure and bury in fear; but also for the star system to get dismantled,’ he tweeted.

Simmons is being investigated by the New York Police Department. Eight of the 12 women who have gone public with their allegations say their encounters with Simmons took place in New York over a period spanning three decades.

Fashion PR maven Kelly Cutrone was the 12th woman to come forward with her own allegations against Simmons.

Cutrone claimed on Thursday that Simmons tried to rape her in 1991.

Cutrone, who founded fashion PR house People’s Revolution and starred in several reality shows, says she decided to come forward after the entertainment mogul denied the allegations of the 11 other women. 

Cutrone’s allegations were first reported by the New York Post.

She says when she was 26-years-old, she had run into Simmons after a party and they went to what she thought was his friend’s place, but that it appeared to actually be Simmons’ home.

Justine Bateman and Kelly Cutrone attend the birthday party in 1990, a year before Cutrone says Simmons tried to rape her

Kelly Cutrone (pictured) has accused Simmons of trying to rape her in 1991 after luring her into his home

Kelly Cutrone (in sunglasses circa 1990, and in 2016) has accused Simmons of trying to rape her in 1991 after luring her into his home 

‘He pushed me into his apartment and then he threw me down on the floor and literally tried to grab … take my clothes off of me,’ Cutrone told the Post.

‘And I started kicking him really, really hard, screaming, telling him to get the f–k off of me. And that I would have him killed if he ever f–king laid a hand on me.’ 

She added, ‘I actually think I told him I would call Page Six! I was a publicist! I think I told him I would call Page Six and have him murdered.’ 

Cutrone also says she vividly remembers running out of Simmons’ home. 

Cutrone recalls ‘I got in a cab and I remember a feeling — which was so crazy — of, ”Oh my god. Somebody just tried to rape me. What do I do?” 

She added ‘And then the energy of going to the police and pressing charges against him was overwhelming to me.’  

A total of 12 women have come forward in recent weeks to accuse Simmons of sex crimes. On his Instagram page on Thursday, Simmons denied the allegations and vowed to disprove each of them

A total of 12 women have come forward in recent weeks to accuse Simmons of sex crimes. On his Instagram page on Thursday, Simmons denied the allegations and vowed to disprove each of them

The PR guru said she would call him out in introductions years later. 

‘I’d be at a table and Russell f–king Simmons would come up to the table and then people would be like, ‘Kelly, do you know Russell?,’ and I’d be like, ‘Yes, I know Russell — he tried to rape me.”

Earlier Thursday, five other women came forward to accuse Simmons of either sexual assault or harassment. 

The New York Police Department says they are opening a criminal investigation against the hip hop mogul.

Who are the twelve 

Fashion PR maven Kelly Cutrone accused Simmons of trying to rape her in 1991 after luring her into his home under the guise of it being a friend’s place  

Natashia Williams-Blach, an actress who appeared in a film produced by Simmons, alleges that in 1996 the mogul tried to force her to perform oral sex

Sherri Hines, a singer, alleges that during a meeting with Simmons in his New York office in 1983, he raped her

In 2016, comedian Amanda Seales says that Simmons asked her during a meeting: ‘Have we ever f****d?’

Two ex-employees at the LA yoga studio founded by Simmons say that he often made women feel uncomfortable by creating a sexually charged atmosphere

Drew Dixon was working as an executive at Def Jam Recordings in 1995 when she was allegedly raped by Simmons 

Tina Baker, a singer who Simmons managed in the early 90s, claims he sexually assaulted her after inviting her ‘discuss her career’ at his place 

Music journalist Toni Sallie shared a very similar story, saying she was raped in 1988 after he invited her to attend a party for his girlfriend at his apartment 

Former model Keri Claussen Khalighi claims she too was assaulted by him in the same apartment as Brett Ratner watched

 

A total of 12 women have come forward in recent weeks to accuse Simmons of sex crimes.

On his Instagram page on Thursday, Simmons denied the allegations and vowed to disprove each of them.

‘Today, I begin to properly defend myself,’ Simmons wrote on his Instagram page.

‘I will prove without any doubt that I am innocent of all rape charges. Today, I will focus on ‘The Original Sin’ (Keri Claussen), the claim that created this insane pile on of my #MeToo. Stay tuned!

‘We’ll share information today… And tomorrow the case of Jenny Lumet. My intention is not to diminish the #MeToo movement in anyway, but instead hold my accusers accountable. 

The day before he was pictured hooked up to a lie detector and claims the results prove he did NOT sexually assault model Keri Claussen Khalighi.

Russell’s team says the test, believed to have taken place in the LA area,  was conducted by a national leader in the field of polygraphing. 

According to Simmons’ attorneys, Michael Sterling and E. Carlos Tanner, Simmons plans to repeat the test for allegations made by four other women and that he will release all the results once he’s completed the tests.

‘Again, this is not a movement against or even in conjunction with #Metoo . It’s just a statement about my innocence.’

The NYPD told the Los Angeles Times that it was in the beginning stages of reaching out to Simmons’ alleged victims.

Eight of the 11 incidents detailed in recent weeks took place in New York.

The LA Times on Thursday published on-the-record accounts of five different women who say they were either assaulted or harassed by Simmons.

Natashia Williams-Blach, an actress who appeared in How to Be a Player, a film produced by Simmons, alleges that in 1996 the rap mogul tried to force her to perform oral sex on him.

The alleged incident took place after Simmons took her to a yoga class in Los Angeles. 

Williams-Blach, who was 18 years old at the time, said she got out of the situation by telling Simmons that she needed to return to study hall at UCLA, where she was enrolled as a freshman student.

She described Simmons as ‘a funny guy and really charming’ when they met during production of the film.

Williams-Blach said that because Simmons was more than twice her age, she ‘felt very easy with him. It was like an uncle.’

After Simmons took her to a hot yoga class, they then stopped by his house to watch promotional videos for the movie.

Natashia Williams-Blach, an actress who appeared in How to Be a Player, a film produced by Simmons, alleges that in 1996 the rap mogul tried to force her to perform oral sex on him

Natashia Williams-Blach, an actress who appeared in How to Be a Player, a film produced by Simmons, alleges that in 1996 the rap mogul tried to force her to perform oral sex on him

She alleges that Simmons tried to kiss her, but she moved away. When she told Simmons she wasn’t interested, he tried again.

‘He pushes the crown of my head swiftly down while he’s got his hand on his zipper. It was just a few seconds,’ Williams-Blach said.

She then told Simmons she needed to return to UCLA, and he agreed to drive her.

Simmons’ attorney told the LA Times that while Simmons does remember taking a yoga class with Williams-Blach, he ‘vehemently denies the rest of her allegations.’

Another woman, physical therapist Erin Beattie, said that she was hired by Simmons to give her a massage in a Seattle hotel room in 2005.

During their session, Simmons allegedly exposed himself and asked her to touch his penis.

‘He was like, ‘Do you want to work this out?” she recalled him saying to her.

Sherri Hines alleges that during a meeting with Simmons in his New York office in 1983, he raped her

Sherri Hines alleges that during a meeting with Simmons in his New York office in 1983, he raped her

Beattie, 36, said Simmons was taken aback when she refused his advances.

‘He just expected that that was what was going to happen,’ she said. ‘He couldn’t believe I would say no.’

She told Simmons she would either leave or finish the massage without any sexual contact.

Simmons agreed, and the massage was completed without incident.

Beattie said Simmons also made lewd comments and bragged about how easy it was to sell yoga DVDs to the public, whom he referred to as ‘sheep.’

The next day, Beattie said she agreed to give Simmons another massage after he promised there would be nothing sexual about it.

In 2008, Hines authored a novel titled Mercedes Ladies, which was marketed as a work of fiction 'based on a true story.' The main character of the book, Shelly Shel, was sexually assaulted by 'Ron,' a powerful businessman

In 2008, Hines authored a novel titled Mercedes Ladies, which was marketed as a work of fiction ‘based on a true story.’ The main character of the book, Shelly Shel, was sexually assaulted by ‘Ron,’ a powerful businessman

Simmons’ lawyer, Brad Rose, told the LA Times that his client ‘jokingly’ asked Beattie for a ‘happy ending.’

‘Mr. Simmons regrets any offense that Ms. Beattie took to that remark either back then or now,’ Rose said.

Beattie said that Simmons was the only client to ever expose himself to her during her career as a massage therapist.

‘It was not a joke,’ she said.

Another accuser to come forward with allegations against Simmons is Sherri Hines.

Hines was a singer in the all-female hip-hop group Mercedes Ladies. She was known in the entertainment world by her stage name, Sheri Sher.

Hines alleges that during a meeting with Simmons in his New York office in 1983, he raped her.

The alleged incident took place the same night she and Simmons bumped into each other at a nightclub nearby.

Hines, who was 17 or 18 years old at the time, says that afterward he invited her to his office.

He then sidled up next to her on a couch inside the office.

‘The next thing I knew, he was pinning me down and I was trying to fight him and he had his way,’ Hines said.

‘I left crying.’

Hines told a friend who was with her at the club that same night about the encounter with Simmons. She also told one of her sisters that same year.

In 2008, Hines authored a novel titled Mercedes Ladies, which was marketed as a work of fiction ‘based on a true story.’

In 2016, comedian Amanda Seales (seen above performing on Late Night with Seth Meyers on Monday) met with Simmons at the Los Angeles offices of his media company, All Def Digital. Seales, who stars in HBO's Insecure, posted a video to her Instagram account earlier this month in which she says that Simmons asked her during the meeting: 'Have we ever f****d?'

In 2016, comedian Amanda Seales (seen above performing on Late Night with Seth Meyers on Monday) met with Simmons at the Los Angeles offices of his media company, All Def Digital. Seales, who stars in HBO’s Insecure, posted a video to her Instagram account earlier this month in which she says that Simmons asked her during the meeting: ‘Have we ever f****d?’

The main character of the book, Shelly Shel, was sexually assaulted by ‘Ron,’ a powerful businessman.

Hines declined to use Simmons’ name in the book for fear that her book would be ‘blackballed’ since Simmons was ‘high in the industry.’

Simmons’ lawyer, Rose, said his client ‘vigorously denies’ the rape allegation.

He also noted that Hines praised Simmons in the foreword of her book.

Hines told the LA Times that her praise of Simmons in the book was her using ‘sarcasm.’

In 1988, Simmons is alleged to have tried to rape Lisa Kirk in a New York nightclub.

Kirk, who in her early 20s at the time, said she had dated one of Simmons’ close friends.

One night, she and other friends met Simmons at Carmelita’s Reception House near Union Square in Manhattan.

Kirk alleges that at one point Simmons followed her to the women’s room and pushed her into a bathroom stall.

Drew Dixon (pictured) says Simmons sexually harassed her repeatedly when she was an executive at his label, Def Jam Recordings

Drew Dixon (pictured) says Simmons sexually harassed her repeatedly when she was an executive at his label, Def Jam Recordings

‘I smashed into the wall,’ said Kirk, now 50. ‘It tore my clothes.’

At this point, Kirk says that Simmons took his penis out of his pants.

She says that during that instant, Simmons appeared to regret what he had done.

‘He looked mortified and literally ran out of the bathroom,’ she said.

After the incident, Kirk says her underwear was left exposed and she left the club and returned home.

Despite their encounter, Kirk says that years later she asked Simmons for help in financing a film that she was making with a business partner.

Simmons declined, she said.

Simmons’ attorney, Rose, said Kirk’s allegations were ‘outrageous, unverifiable claims.’

Tina Baker, a singer who went by the name Tina B, said  Simmons raped her in the early 1990s when he was her manager. She is pictured on her single January February in the mid-80s

Tina Baker, a singer who went by the name Tina B, said  Simmons raped her in the early 1990s when he was her manager. She is pictured on her single January February in the mid-80s

Kirk said she was scared to tell her ex-boyfriend, who was close with Simmons, about the incident.

She said she wanted to ‘make it go away, to keep on trucking.’

In 2016, comedian Amanda Seales met with Simmons at the Los Angeles offices of his media company, All Def Digital.

Seales, who stars in HBO’s Insecure, posted a video to her Instagram account earlier this month in which she says that Simmons asked her during the meeting: ‘Have we ever f****d?’

Seales said she responded with: ‘No.’

‘Oh right, ’cause I would have remembered that, right?’ Simmons allegedly told her.

After Seales posted the video on December 1, she was contacted by Hasaun Muhammad, an employee at Rush Communications, Simmons’ media firm.

‘He said he wanted to get my point of view on what happened,’ Seales said of her phone conversation with Muhammad.

‘I said, ‘There isn’t really anything else to say. You were sitting right next to me. What is the confusion?’ He said he didn’t feel that Russell had done anything wrong and was just being flirty.’

Music journalist Toni Sallie

Music journalist Toni Sallie (pictured left as a young journalist, and more recently, right) shared a very similar story after she went to interview the powerful entertainment mogul in the late 1980s

Simmons denied Seales’ claims. He sent two signed affidavits to the Times from Muhammad and Marissa Louie, the CEO of Portola Plush Co.

Both said they did not hear Simmons say anything inappropriate.

‘I never witnessed anything inappropriate occurring in words or action between her and Mr. Simmons,’ Muhammad said.

Muhammad said that when Seales and Simmons bumped into each other at the Def Jam Comedy 25th Anniversary event in September, they ‘gave each other a warm embrace.’

The LA Times quotes two former employees at Tantris, the LA yoga studio founded by Simmons, who say that the mogul frequently made women feel uncomfortable by creating a sexually charged atmosphere.

Karen Russell, a former general manager at Tantris, told the Times she felt Simmons used his position to take advantage of women.

SIMMONS’ FULL STATEMENT IN RESPONSE TO RAPE ALLEGATIONS 

I vehemently deny all these allegations. These horrific accusations have shocked me to my core and all of my relations have been consensual.

I am blessed to have shared extraordinary relationships, whether through work or love, with many great women; and I have enormous respect for the women’s movement worldwide and their struggle for respect, dignity, equality and power. I am devastated by any reason I may have given to anyone to say or think of me in the ways that are currently being described. In recent weeks, some former business, creative and romantic partners have aired grievances as claims I categorically reject. In some of these instances, financial motives and direct contradictory witness testimony has been supplied to the media, which has been completely left out of stories. In the last few days, one woman attempted to extort me for $500,000 only to recant her ridiculous claim. The current allegations sent to me by The New York Times range from the patently untrue to the frivolous and hurtful. The presumption of innocent until proven guilty must not be replaced by ‘Guilty by Accusation.’

I have already apologized for the instances of thoughtlessness in my consensual relations. I have separated myself from my businesses and charities in order to not become a distraction. 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.

Russell says a female yoga teacher at Tantris came to her and complained that Simmons had pursued her aggressively even though she made clear to him that she had a boyfriend.

Russell says that Simmons would often try to set up one-on-one meetings with her and asked her to dinner.

Simmons’ lawyer dismissed Russell’s claims, saying that she was a ‘disgruntled former employee.’

Another former teacher at Tantris told the Times she quit earlier this year because of Simmons’ behavior toward women.

She declined to be named because she had signed a nondisclosure agreement.

Simmons’ lawyer said her claims were ‘vague and totally frivolous.’

Former Victoria's Secret model Keri Claussen Khalighi (pictured in 1995) also claims she was sexually assaulted by the hip hop legend

Former Victoria’s Secret model Keri Claussen Khalighi (pictured in 1995) also claims she was sexually assaulted by the hip hop legend

The explosive allegations in the LA Times were published shortly after The New York Times reported that three women had come forward to allege that Simmons raped them.

Drew Dixon told the Times she was working as an executive at Def Jam Recordings in 1995 when she was raped by Simmons in his downtown Manhattan apartment after a prolonged campaign of sexual harassment.

Tina Baker, a singer who Simmons managed in the early 90s, claims the multi-millionaire sexually assaulted her after inviting her back to his place to ‘discuss her career’.

Instead, she claims, he pinned he on the bed and raped her.

‘I did nothing, I shut my eyes and waited for it to end,’ she said, adding that she was so distraught she didn’t sing for a year afterwards.

Music journalist Toni Sallie shared a very similar story after she went to interview the powerful entertainment mogul in the late 1980s.

She claims he invited her back to his apartment for a party he said he was hosting for his girlfriend. 

But when she arrived, it was just the two of them. Sallie says that, despite her repeated protestations, he forced himself on her and raped her.

The women all say they were too scared to report the alleged sexual assaults at the time, but have come forward in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein scandal and the #MeToo campaign.

Just last month, Sidney Lumet’s daughter Jenny, an actress and screenwriter, accused Simmons of forcing her to have sex with him after allegedly locking her in his car and taking her to his apartment against her will in 1991.

Just last month, Sidney Lumet's (left) daughter Jenny (center), an actress and screenwriter, accused Simmons of forcing her to have sex with him after allegedly locking her in his car and taking her to his apartment against her will in 1991

Just last month, Sidney Lumet’s (left) daughter Jenny (center), an actress and screenwriter, accused Simmons of forcing her to have sex with him after allegedly locking her in his car and taking her to his apartment against her will in 1991

And earlier this year, former model Keri Claussen Khalighi claims she too was assaulted by him in the same apartment as Brett Ratner watched.

Simmons, 60, who stepped down from music, fashion and media empire last month after Lumet’s claims, strenuously denies all the allegations.

‘I vehemently deny all these allegations,’ he said in a statement. ‘These horrific accusations have shocked me to my core and all of my relations have been consensual.’

He claims that one woman had ‘attempted to extort me for $500,000 only to recant her ridiculous claim.’   



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