Former Def Jam Recordings executive Drew Dixon has filed a defamation lawsuit against hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons, alleging that he subjected her to public ridicule and called her a liar with the intent to discredit her worldwide. The lawsuit, filed in New York Supreme Court, claims that Simmons continued to defame Dixon through January of this year. Simmons, who has previously denied Dixon’s and other accusers’ allegations of sexual assault and harassment, is facing another lawsuit filed by a woman identified as Jane Doe, who accuses him of rape.
Dixon’s complaint details a pattern of sexual harassment and assault that she claims she endured while working at Def Jam in the 1990s. She alleges that Simmons routinely attempted to grope and kiss her, exposed his erect penis, and made explicit comments about her. Dixon further alleges that in 1995, Simmons raped her in his Manhattan apartment after luring her there under false pretenses.
According to the lawsuit, Simmons has engaged in a concerted effort to discredit Dixon and damage her reputation, making statements in a podcast interview that Dixon claims reference her own public comments about her abuse allegations. In response to the allegations, Simmons has maintained his innocence and stated that he has voluntarily taken lie detector tests that support his denial.
This is the second lawsuit filed against Simmons this week, following the Jane Doe’s rape complaint in U.S. District Court. Dixon previously filed a lawsuit against music executive Antonio “L.A.” Reid, alleging sexual assault and harassment during her time at Arista, where she worked after leaving Def Jam. Dixon’s allegations against Simmons and Reid were first made public in a 2017 New York Times article and were later featured in the documentary “On the Record.”
The documentary, which explores sexual misconduct in the music industry, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival but faced controversy when Oprah Winfrey, one of its producers, withdrew her support. Winfrey cited concerns raised by individuals about Dixon’s account, leading to the film’s distribution deal with Apple TV+ being canceled. It is currently available for streaming on HBO Max.
