Simmons Files $20 Million Defamation Lawsuit Against HBO Over Documentary

Manhattan, New York

Russell Simmons, the Def Jam co-founder, has filed a defamation lawsuit against HBO, its streaming service HBO Max, and the filmmakers of the 2020 documentary On the Record. The suit, filed on Tuesday, June 3, in New York state court, seeks $20 million in damages and an order to remove the documentary from HBO’s platforms.

In the court documents, Simmons alleges that directors Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering, along with HBO, “willfully, intentionally, negligently, and/or recklessly” ignored crucial evidence that could have supported his position. This evidence, he claims, includes interviews with over twenty witnesses and other materials that allegedly contradict the accusations made against him in the film.

Imran H. Ansari and Carla DiMare, attorneys for Simmons, issued a statement asserting, “Despite voluminous support for Mr. Simmons in the form of credible information, the defendants simply disregarded it, and released, and continue to re-release globally, a film that tremendously disparaged and damaged Mr. Simmons with salacious and defamatory accusations that he vehemently denies.”

The documentary, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, features the stories of multiple women who allege sexual misconduct by Simmons, including former Def Jam executive Drew Dixon and domestic violence activist Sil Lai Abrams. Simmons has consistently denied the allegations against him.

Notably, the film lost its initial distribution deal with Apple TV+ after Oprah Winfrey, who was originally an executive producer, withdrew from the project, citing creative differences with the filmmakers. This change allowed HBO Max to pick it up as its first festival acquisition.

In response to the lawsuit, a spokesperson for Warner Bros. Discovery, HBO’s parent company, stated, “We dispute Mr. Simmons’ allegations and stand by the filmmakers and their process.”

The legal proceedings may face challenges due to New York’s statute of limitations on defamation claims, which is one year. However, Simmons’ team is expected to argue that the case hinges on the ongoing distribution of the documentary, thus extending the timeframe for legal action.