Oprah Winfrey distances herself from Russel Simmons #MeToo documentary

Oprah Winfrey is stepping back from a documentary headed for the Sundance Film Festival that centers on sexual misconduct allegations against Russell Simmons. 

The high profile documentary will premiere at Sundance later this month. It was also due to be released on Apple TV+ but Winfrey said that that is no longer the case after she stepped back as executive producer on the project. . 

‘I have decided that I will no longer be executive producer on The Untitled Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering documentary and it will not air on Apple TV+,’ Winfrey said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter. 

‘First and foremost, I want it to be known that I unequivocally believe and support the women. Their stories deserve to be told and heard.

‘In my opinion, there is more work to be done on the film to illuminate the full scope of what the victims endured, and it has become clear that the filmmakers and I are not aligned in that creative vision.’

Winfrey specifically mentions that filmmakers Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering wanted to premiere the film at Sundance before she felt it was ‘complete.’  

Winfrey specifically mentions that filmmaker Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering wanted to premiere the film at Sundance before she felt it was ‘complete’

‘I will be working with Time’s Up to support the victims and those impacted by abuse and sexual harassment,’ Winfrey concluded in her statement.

The film explores the allegations pertaining to Simmons, specifically those of Drew Dixon – who made claims against the music mogul in a New York Times interview in 2017. 

Dixon claims that Simmons raped her in his apartment in 1995 while he was her boss at a music label. Dixon quit the company soon after the alleged incident. 

Dick and Ziering released their own statement, sharing that they intended to move forward with the documentary’s release.  

‘Revealing hard truths is never easy, and the women in our documentary are all showing extraordinary strength and courage by raising their voices to address sexual abuse in the music industry,’ they said. ‘While we are disappointed that Oprah Winfrey is no longer an Executive Producer on the project, we are gratified that Winfrey has unequivocally said she believes and supports the survivors of the film.

The film explored the allegations pertaining to Simmons, specifically those of Drew Dixon – who made claims against the music mogul in a New York Times interview in 2017

‘The #MeToo experiences of Black women deserve to be heard, especially against powerful men, so we will continue with our plans to bring the film to The Sundance Film Festival. 

‘The film, more than two years in the making, will be our eighth film to premiere at Sundance. The film is a beacon of hope for voices that have long been suppressed, and an inspiration for anyone wanting to regain their power power.’

Time’s Up Foundation president and CEO Tina Tchen released a statement calling the women in the documentary ‘brave.’ 

Oprah has declared that she still supports the women who have come forward

‘We believe them,’ Tchen declared. ‘We support Oprah Winfrey in maintaining that the victims’ stories deserve to be heard on their own terms. Too often, black women are silenced, disbelieved, or even vilified when they speak out. 

‘On top of that, for years, these women have been attacked by powerful forces surrounding Russell Simmons – illustrating how difficult it is to speak out against powerful men. And how important it is for powerful men to be held accountable for their actions. 

‘As Oprah made clear in her statement, any decision by her and Apple regarding this documentary does not change the underlying facts. We assert Time’s Up’s unwavering support for these survivors. We are in awe of their courage and strength. We will continue to fight for them, and we will continue to fight for a future where black women are truly heard and believed.’

Simmons has vehemently denied all the allegations brought against him. =