Source: Bernard Smalls / @PhotosByBeanz / Russell Simmons
Russell Simmons ran to Bali to escape possible legal ramifications for being a creep, but he damn sure can’t escape paying what he owes to three women the money that’s owed to them.
Spotted on Variety, court records revealed that Simmons owes three women $3 million after failing to pay them as agreed upon in previous settlements.
Per Variety:
Three confessions of judgment were filed Wednesday in New York County Supreme Court on behalf of journalist Sil Lai Abrams, Sherri Abernathy and Wendy Carolina Franco. The documents were part of confidential settlement agreements the women entered into with the music mogul in November 2023.
Simmons agreed to pay each woman substantial sums “for claimant’s alleged personal, physical injuries and sickness,” by Oct. 1. But according to the documents, he has failed to pay.
He provided the confessions of judgment to the plaintiffs last year, as part of the settlement. In the event of a default, they give the plaintiffs an expedited means to obtain judgments in New York state court and to begin the collections process.
According to the website, Simmons agreed to pay $1,265,000 each to Abrams and Abernathy and $515,000 to Franco. He did not admit to any wrongdoing as part of the settlement.
Russell Simmons’ History of Being A Creep
The Def Jam Records cofounder was accused of rape by Abrams, who is a writer and domestic violence. Abrams said the alleged incident occurred in 1994.
She also participated in the 2020 HBO documentary On The Record, which arrived after the #MeToo movement and highlighted Black women’s traumatic experiences while working in the Hip-Hop industry.
Simmons has been accused of sexual assault by more than 20 women. Just last February, an unnamed woman who previously worked with Def Jam said Simmons raped her in the 90s.
Drew Dixon, a former Def Jam executive, slapped Simmons with a defamation lawsuit two days after Jane Doe’s lawsuit. Simmons called her a “liar” after she claimed Simmons sexually assaulted her.
We hope these women get every single cent!
