EXCLUSIVE: Russell Simmons Files Explosive Manhattan Lawsuit Against HBO

Russell Simmons has filed a lawsuit in Manhattan against HBO, Warner Bros. Discovery, and the filmmakers of the 2019 documentary “On the Record,” accusing them of defamation and ignoring warnings about the film’s one-sided nature. Simmons claims the documentary was a “tabloid hit piece” designed to exploit the #MeToo movement for profit and that HBO knowingly pushed forward despite concerns raised by civil rights leaders like Rev. Al Sharpton and Rev. Jesse Jackson, as well as internal board members who requested a more balanced portrayal.

The lawsuit alleges that the central accuser in the film had a financial stake and significant influence over the production, a fact not disclosed to viewers. It further highlights Oprah Winfrey’s initial support for the project, which she later withdrew due to inconsistencies in the accuser’s story. Simmons also points to key witnesses, like Nana Carmen Ashhurst and Thomasina Perkins-Washington, whose accounts contradicting the allegations were allegedly excluded from the film.

Simmons asserts that HBO executives, including Casey Bloys, dismissed his attempts to present a rebuttal and ignored evidence favorable to him, including polygraph tests he claims to have passed. He argues that the decision to proceed with the film was deliberate and malicious, demonstrating a disregard for the truth and a willingness to damage his reputation. The complaint repeatedly emphasizes that the defendants “deliberately, recklessly, and maliciously” released the film despite being presented with credible evidence challenging the allegations.

(Source：The Washington Informer)