Russell Simmons is taking legal action against HBO and the creators of the “On the Record” documentary, seeking a compensation of $20 million. He claims they tarnished his reputation by making false accusations against him and disregarding proof that aligned with his account of the incidents.
In 2020, I came across a powerful documentary, produced by Amy Ziering and Kirby Dick, that shed light on disturbing sexual assault and misconduct allegations against a prominent hip-hop figure. This eye-opening film was available on HBO Max.
On Tuesday, Imran Ansari, attorney for Simmons, submitted a legal document in a Manhattan civil court, claiming that the movie creators either ignored or concealed details given by Simmons’ representatives.
In spite of substantial backing for Mr. Simmons, which includes trustworthy data, compelling proof, testimonies, and requests for a deeper probe by influential figures in media, politics, and the civil rights sector, the defendants have chosen to ignore this evidence and have continued to disseminate a movie worldwide that has severely tarnished and slandered Mr. Simmons with baseless and defaming allegations, which he firmly denies,” said Ansari and lawyer Carla DiMare in a statement.
In the state of New York, you’ve got exactly a year from the initial release date to take legal action for defamation cases. For Simmons to win this case against HBO, they need to prove that HBO is accountable for any more recent broadcasts or distribution of the same content in international regions.
The movie first premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2020, originally planned for Apple TV+ under Oprah Winfrey’s agreement with the streaming service. Yet, Winfrey decided to step away from the production, resulting in the film being distributed on HBO Max instead.
The document states that Simmons’ advocates tried to influence HBO executives such as Casey Bloys and WarnerMedia CEO John Stankey, but unfortunately, their efforts did not yield any results.
The document asserts that various influential figures from media, politics, and the black community – such as civil rights activists, members of Congress, and prominent black leaders, as well as board members within the defendant corporations themselves – have urged the defendants to examine this specific evidence and information.
The request calls for “instant deletion” of the documentary from HBO’s systems, along with a demand for at least $20 million in compensation.
In 2023, Simmons settled a sexual misconduct lawsuit privately with Sil Lai Abrams, one of the interviewees in a documentary, for an amount totaling $1,265,000, as disclosed through court records from last year.
In all, more than 20 women have accused him of sexual assault.
Ansari serves as a partner at the law firm, Aidala, Bertuna & Kamins, which is based in New York and is presently handling Harvey Weinstein’s defense during his second criminal trial.
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2025-06-04 19:47