Update:

“I have enormous respect for the women’s movement worldwide and their struggle for respect, dignity, equality and power.”

He’s so full of shit. Read the rest of his response in the NY Times article above.



~

The sketchiest, skeeziest person I’ve ever had the displeasure to interview.

Breaking in the LA Times and the front page of Reddit.com/r/news this morning: “Russell Simmons Allegedly Assaulted 17-Year-Old Model While Brett Ratner Watched.”

Glad to see allegations come out about Russell Simmons’s countless forced sexual acts (you know, rape) in the LA Times—he’s the sketchiest, skeeziest person I’ve ever had the displeasure to interview.

Russell’s response:

Remember, he dated (later married) a 17-year-old, too—when he was 35.

A reminder: Anything that the models or LA Times or anyone says about Russell Simmons is still alleged—it still has to be established in a court of law. Democracies are not mob rule. That said, anyone who’s been affected by him in these ways, hopefully, can feel the bravery to come forward through Twitter or Facebook—or Elephant, or their own writing on their own site. We need to change this culture of fear to one of facts and accountability.

As I write about in my book, which is about the Buddhist notion of love, this is the best thing in the world—sex, intimacy, love, connection, vulnerability—and you can only access the best thing by being kind. You can’t get love or intimacy or vulnerability through aggression or abuse of power.

My conversation with him at his new Venus Flytrap of a yoga studio:

My reaction to Louis CK’s apology. This will involve swearing.



Bonus:

Bonus, this just in: Terry Crews was allegedly sexually assaulted by a prominent industry leader. Russell Simmons told him to “give the agent a pass.” Here’s Terry Crews’ reply:

Terry Crews says Russell Simmons asked him to give target of sexual-assault allegations ‘a pass’.

Terry Crews was allegedly sexually assaulted by a prominent industry leader. Russell Simmons told him to “give the agent a pass.” Here’s Terry Crews’ reply:

Relephant: