According to model Keri Khalighi, Russell Simmons allegedly assaulted her at his NYC apartment when she was 17-years-old. The model also claims filmmaker Bret Ratner watched the sexual assault and did nothing.
“I looked over at Brett and said, ‘help me’ and I’ll never forget the look on his face,” she recalled. “In that moment, the realization fell on me that they were in it together.”
During the interview with the LA Times, Khalighi went into detail about the horrendous night. She claims they (Simmons and Ratner) all had dinner at Mr. Chows and then went back to Simmons’ place to watch a music video Simmons and Ratner were working on. At the time, Ratner was an up and coming filmmaker and Simmons was a mentor of sorts. While at the apartment, Simmons allegedly began forcing himself on the teen while Ratner did nothing to stop it.
Since the detailed claims, Russell Simmons has spoken out against them. According to USA Today, the mogul denies the accusations being made against him.
“I completely and unequivocally deny the horrendous allegations of non-consensual sex against me with every fiber of my being,” Simmons said in a statement shared with USA TODAY from representative Eric Rose.
Though the mogul denies the claims, Khalighi’s interview contained some vivid descriptions of the night. She went on to say the assault took place in 1991 when Simmons was about 34 years old at the time. He tried to force her to have sex. “I fought it wildly,” she said.
Simmons’ rebuttal to the night in question was “Everything that occurred between Keri and me occurred with her full consent and participation.”
In addition to this claim, Ratner has been linked to at least six other alleged assaults. In the case with Simmons, he denies those as well.
Looks like the Hollywood Empire is going to keep collapsing. We’ll be here eating popcorn like the Michael meme waiting to see what else pops out from behind the curtains.
ALSO READ: #METOO CAMPAIGN CONTINUES WITH JESSE JACKSON AND JOHN SINGLETON NAMED
- TAMMIE HOLLAND IN HER OWN WORDS: HER CAREER, HER LIFE, AND HER LOVE FOR HER CITY - Thursday, September 22, 2022
- The Photograph Is A Love Story Told Right… - Thursday, February 13, 2020
- Gotta Be Lovin The Hamiltones - Wednesday, November 21, 2018
