Sexual Assault Accusers Say, Russell Simmons Allegedly Owes $8M in Settlements

Three women who accused Russell Simmons of sexual assault claim that he is responsible for more than $8 million in confidential settlements.

According to New York Supreme Court documents, lawyers for the three women – Toni Sallie, Alexia Jones, and Tina Klein-Baker – filed affirmations this month, claiming that the music mogul had not paid them more than $8 million plus interest as settlements.

The women allege that Simmons admitted no wrongdoing and agreed to settlements in 2023. He made initial payments but did not continue to pay toward the settlement amounts. The Def Jam Recordings founder allegedly owes Sallie $2,940,000 plus 20% yearly interest, Jones $190,000 plus 20% yearly interest and Klein-Baker $4,950,000.

The settlement documents don’t detail the accusations made by the women against Simmons. Jones claimed that Simmons had forced himself on her in 1991 during their first date, according to a 2020 interview with CBS News.

“He raped my right up against the (expletive) wall. Excuse me for my language, but that’s exactly what he did. She said, “I had to keep this a secret.”

Jones continued, “This was an extremely swift attack. What was on my mind most was ‘Why’? Because I liked Russell. I would have kissed him. I would have made out with him. He didn’t have to attack me.

A 2017 New York Times report claimed that Klein-Baker was assaulted by Simmons in the early 90s, when he managed her, and Sallie, who is a music journalist claimed that the former record executive had assaulted her at her Manhattan apartment in the late 1980s.

Sallie’s settlement agreement refers to “alleged physical injury, physical illness or mental distress, including any alleged emotional stress and mental anguish originating from or attributable with that alleged physical injury or sickness.” Klein-Baker appears to have sealed the settlement agreement.

In recent years, Simmons has been accused by more than a dozen women of sexual abuse. This includes former Def Jam executive Drew Dixon. He denied that any of these interactions were not consensual, but stepped aside from his business as the allegations grew in 2017. Simmons has moved to Bali, Indonesia. The country does not have an extradition agreement with the U.S.