Russell Simmons has filed a $20 million defamation lawsuit against HBO and the creators of the 2020 documentary On the Record. The film details multiple sexual assault allegations against him. Simmons claims the documentary presented a “false narrative” and disregarded evidence supporting his innocence.
The lawsuit, filed in New York Supreme Court on June 3, names HBO, HBO Max, filmmakers Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering, and Jane Doe Films as defendants. Simmons alleges the filmmakers “willfully” ignored exculpatory evidence, including over 20 favorable witnesses and nine “CIA-grade” polygraph tests. He asserts that, despite presenting this material to HBO and Warner Bros. executives, it was disregarded.
Simmons’ legal team argues that HBO is liable for continued “republication” of the film internationally, despite the statute of limitations for defamation having passed. They claim the documentary severely damaged his reputation with allegedly false claims.
Background of the Documentary and Allegations
On the Record premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2020 and was later released on HBO Max. The documentary centers on allegations from several women, including Drew Dixon, a former A&R executive at Def Jam, who alleges Simmons raped her in his apartment. The film also features testimonies from Sil Lai Abrams and Sheri Sher, among others.
Initially, Oprah Winfrey was attached as an executive producer but withdrew her support prior to the film’s release, citing creative differences. Winfrey stated, “I unequivocally believe and support the women. Their stories deserve to be told and heard.” She added that she stepped down because she felt “there is more work to be done on the film to illuminate the full scope of what the victims endured.”
In response to the lawsuit, Warner Bros. Discovery, HBO’s parent company, stated they stand by their filmmakers and will vigorously defend themselves against the accusations.
Simmons has faced multiple allegations of sexual misconduct over the years, which he has consistently denied. In 2017, he stepped down from his various business roles following public accusations. In 2024, he was sued over a separate rape allegation from the 1990s.
The legal dispute underscores the ongoing tensions between public figures accused of misconduct and the media entities that report on such allegations. As the case proceeds, it will test the boundaries of defamation law in the context of documentary filmmaking and the #MeToo movement.