The ongoing series of historic sexual assault allegations made by female celebrities against male celebrities continues. The latest to come forward with an accusation is Luann de Lesseps, one of the cast members of ‘The Real Housewives of New York’. She has made a historic accusation against Russell Simmons as she says he groped her in an elevator many years ago.
She made the accusation for the first time during an interview with ‘The Daily Beast’. Her accusation is just the latest in a string of allegations made against Simmons as the NYPD are currently investigating accusations made by at least ten women against him. Simmons continues to deny each of the allegations that have been made.
Luann de Lesseps says that the incident took place three years ago while they were in an elevator together. According to her account of the events, Simmons inappropriately grabbed her bottom and she says he behaved like a pig. The reality star says that the incident left her feeling grossed out and that she was shocked by his behavior. Lesseps went on to say that she had told him never to do that again and that she felt he had taken advantage of her.
Although he has previously denied the other allegations made against him, Simmons has not yet directly responded to the accusation made by Luann de Lesseps. The allegations vary from sexual harassment or assault to the more serious accusation of rape.
The first woman to come forward was model Keri Claussen Khalighi. In November 2017, she claimed that Simmons and Brett Ratner sexually assaulted her in 1991 when she was just seventeen. This sparked more accusations from women. So far, there have been six accusations of sexual assault or harassment prior to the accusation made by Luann de Lesseps. These included accusations from Kelly Cutrone, Keri Claussen Khalighi, Lisa Kirk, Toni Sallie, Amanda Seales, and Natasha Williams-Blach.
The first woman to come forward and make a rape claim against Russell Simmons was screenwriter Jenny Lumet in November 2017. This has been followed by five further accusations of rape from Sherri Hines, Tina Baker, Drew Dixon, Jennifer Jarosik, and Jane Doe.
Although Simmons vehemently denies all the allegations, he did step down from his business ventures in response to the accusations. HBO also responded by removing him and his likeness from stand-up comedy specials from December 2017 onwards.
Simmons has spoken openly about the accusation in an interview with Rolling Stone in February 2018. He described his primary emotion as shock and claims that he has never had an abusive relationship with a woman and always treats women with respect. He went on to explain his actions in stepping down from his businesses. Rather than this being an admission of his guilt, he explained that he had done this so as not to become a distraction from the core purpose of the businesses.
At this time, the police investigation into the accusations continues and there is no sign of whether Russell Simmons is guilty of any of the accusations made against him.
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