Kimora Lee Simmons, the ex-wife of music mogul Russell Simmons, has spoken out for the first time since sexual assault allegations against her ex-husband broke late last year.
In an Instagram post captioned “Now that I put my baby down...,” Kimora took a rather neutral stance to the allegations, saying that while the allegations against Russell are “nothing like the person I have known,” she does “believe that no one should ever be shamed or portrayed as an unreliable witness to their own experience for speaking up.”
“I add my voice to the chorus of those speaking out against sexual harassment in all its forms,” Kimora Lee Simmons started off her statement. “I have known Russell for over 25 years. We were close friends, married, divorced and have remained friends, co-parents and partners throughout it all. These allegations against him are nothing like the person I have known in all that time. I have known him to be a caring and supporting father and someone who has worked tirelessly to uplift disenfranchised communities.”
“My sincere hope is that anyone faced with harassment or assault reports it to their organization and/or law enforcement, though I understand that in many cases, this may not be possible,” she said, finishing the post.
Russell and Kimora married in 1998 and had two children together before divorcing in 2009.
Russell Simmons, 60, is being accused of sexual misconduct by 11 women, including model Keri Claussen Khalighi and filmmaker Jenny Lumet. Most recently, documentary filmmaker Jennifer Jarosik accused Simmons of raping her and filed a lawsuit against the businessman on Wednesday seeking $5 million.
As USA Today notes, on Wednesday, Simmons released a statement refuting the allegations made by Jarosik.
“This allegation is absolutely untrue. I look forward to having my day in court— where, unlike the court of public opinion, I will have the ability to make use of fair processes that ensure that justice will be done and that the full truth will be known,” the statement read.