Father’s Day for Def Jam Recordings executive, Russell Simmons, has not been a joyful celebration.
The drama started when eldest daughter, Ming Lee, posted a “Happy Father’s Day” post to mom, Kimora Lee Simmons. On Sunday (June 18), Ming shared a throwback photo of her as a toddler walking down the Baby Phat runway with her mom. She captioned it, “Happy Fathers Day 🤍 @kimoraleesimmons.”
Russell, 65, responded by posting a pointed message suggesting his estranged ex-wife was blocking him from being there for his daughters.
“Stop telling fathers they should have fought harder to see their children & start asking mothers why he had to fight at all,” the post read.
Russell’s cryptic IG story response behooved Kimora, 48, and Aoki, 20, to react. On Monday Kimora, shared to her IG story, “I’m so sorry to have to do this,” she wrote. “But this man has been threatening my kids’ lives. I’m hearing so much more now. We won’t be bullied threatened or afraid.”
She then jumped on Instagram Live and tearfully said that “we’ve been fine up until these past several years. I’m just asking that you please leave us alone. I’ve tried to go to lawyers and get help. I’ve tried to show all the crazy texts.”
The model also accused Russell of being “abusive” to the women in his life.
“The same abusive ish,” she wrote. “This is how you maneuver with the women all around you. Your threats and lies and intimidation maneuvers and tactics are sad. Stop it please. Your own flesh and blood? Enough is enough.”
Eighteen women have previously accused Russell of sexual misconduct including music executive Drew Dixon. Russell has denied all accusations.
His daughter, Aoki, a recent Harvard graduate, hopped on Instagram Live in defense of her mom and sister.
“He has called us terrible things,” she said. “All because I wouldn’t take his side in a lawsuit. My mom didn’t ask me to take her side.”
Aoki, 20, added, “This is abusive at this point, and I really feel like my career is over. You cannot just abuse your kids behind closed doors and not take accountability.”
She posted a video of Russell appearing to yell at her over FaceTime to her Instagram page.
She captioned it, “This is not someone who will accept help. This is just one screen recording sorry I don’t always remember to press ‘record’ when he calls my friends, my boyfriend, anyone, to get a chance to threaten and curse and go crazy.”