Russell Simmons continues to stand by his conviction that he is innocent amid allegations of sexual harassment from different women. The businessman subjected himself to a lie detector test in Los Angeles on Wednesday, Dec. 13, and the results were in his favor.
Simmons decided to take a lie detector test to address the rape accusation from model Keri Claussen Khalighi. Simmons's attorneys, E. Carlos Tanner and Michael Sterling, were reportedly around to monitor the test. They vouched that an expert in the field of polygraphing administered the lie detector test.
Simmons answered a series of questions concerning Khalighi's accusation. The model alleged that the music mogul forced her to do oral sex on him in 1991 when she was then only 17 years old. Simmons has since denied her accusation. The results of his lie detector test further proved his innocence. Simons reportedly wants to do another round of tests to address all sexual accusations against him. He plans to release all the results afterward. His attorneys, on the other hand, encourage the accusers to also undergo the test.
Simmons took the lie detector test after he defended himself on his Instagram with the hashtag #NotMe. In his post, he said that he is without a doubt "innocent of all rape charges." He also assured that he will answer all the allegations one by one to clear his name, which he started with Khalighi's.
He will address Jenny Lumet's case next. The screenwriter accused the Def Jam cofounder of sexual assault in November, which prompted Simmons to step down from his companies.
The rap mogul also clarified that the #NotMe hashtag does not diminish the #MeToo movement of the women who have spoken up against their sexual offenders. Instead, it is merely a statement about his innocence, which aims to hold his accusers accountable.
A post shared by Russell Simmons (@unclerush) on Dec 14, 2017 at 6:32am PST
Simmons took the lie detector test and defended himself on Instagram after four women spoke up against him. Toni Sallie, Sherri Hines, Drew Dixon, and Tina Baker all accused him of sexual harassment. They shared their stories in an interview with the New York Times. Dixon claimed that Simmons raped her in 1995 when she was 24 years old. The hip-hop mogul was reportedly involved in sexual misconducts, including rape.
Simmons has since expressed his shock over the "horrific accusations." He denied the rape accusations and vouched that he has great respect for women.
"I am blessed to have shared extraordinary relationships, whether through work or love, with many great women; and I have enormous respect for the women's movement worldwide and their struggle for respect, dignity, equality and power," Simmons said in a statement sent to CNN.
