Russell Simmons lawsuit against HBO Max for $20M over “On the Record” documentary

Russell Simmons is not holding back when it comes to defending his name against the sexual assault claims made in the 2020 HBO Max documentary “On the Record.” Simmons recently filed a lawsuit against the streamer for $20 million, alleging that the documentary ignored or suppressed more than 20 witnesses who refuted the allegations made by multiple women.

In the legal documents filed in New York, Simmons claims that his denials were backed by credible information, evidence, witness statements, and calls for further investigation from notable figures in the media, politics, and civil rights movements. Despite this, Simmons argues that HBO Max released the documentary globally, tarnishing his reputation with what he believes are false and damaging accusations.

Simmons states that the information contradicting the allegations was available to key individuals at WarnerMedia, HBO Max’s parent company, including CEO John Stankey. He further alleges that civil rights leaders and members of Congress had encouraged HBO to review the evidence supporting his denials, though he did not specify any names.

One noteworthy mention in the lawsuit is Oprah Winfrey, who Simmons claims was initially an executive producer of the documentary but later distanced herself from the project. However, the spokesperson for Warner Bros./Discovery has since disputed Simmons’ allegations, expressing support for the filmmakers and the documentary’s process and vowing to vigorously defend against the lawsuit. Simmons’ legal team maintains that the assertions made in the documentary are baseless and damaging to his reputation, which he vehemently denies.