Russell Simmons reportedly faces legal trouble after defaulting on $3 million in court settlements owed to three women.
According to Variety, journalist Sil Lai Abrams, Sherri Abernathy, and Wendy Carolina Franco reached confidential settlements with Simmons in November 2023 related to “alleged personal, physical injuries and sickness.” The payments were due by October 1, 2024, but Simmons has failed to meet this deadline.
As part of the settlement, Simmons provided the women with confessions of judgment, a legal tool allowing them to secure expedited judgments and begin collections in the event of non-payment. While Simmons did not admit any wrongdoing, he agreed to pay Abrams and Abernathy $1,265,000 each and Franco $515,000.
The court filings do not disclose specific details about the settlements. However, Abrams, a well-known author and domestic violence advocate, previously accused Simmons of raping her in 1994.
Simmons has faced multiple allegations of sexual misconduct over the years. More than 20 women have accused him of sexual harassment and assault. Earlier this year, a former Def Jam employee, identified as Jane Doe, claimed Simmons raped her in the 1990s.
Shortly after, Drew Dixon, another ex-Def Jam executive, filed a lawsuit accusing him of launching a “malicious campaign” to discredit her own sexual assault allegations against him.
Simmons has denied all accusations and dismissed rumors that he fled to Bali to escape legal consequences. In May, Simmons told AllHipHop, “People keep saying I can’t come home when I’m in the U.S. all the time. It’s exhausting to hear the same false narrative. I regularly travel to L.A., New York, and Miami, and I’ve never felt unsafe in America.”
Despite his public denials, Simmons’ legal challenges continue to mount as these settlements remain unpaid. In Bali, Russell Simmons has been visited by Usher, Taraji P. Henson, and many more.
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