Russell Simmons recently served time in Bali and learned he was the target of a defamation lawsuit from Drew Dixon, who has accused the mogul of sexual assault. Russell Simmons is asking that Drew Dixon's lawsuit be thrown out because he never mentioned the music executive by name in recent comments about the allegations he's facing.
Radar Online reports that Russell Simmons, 66, wants Dixon's defamation suit dropped following his March 5 performance while at the Gdas Bali health and wellness resort.
From Radar Online:
Simmons has since argued that none of the “statements alleged in the Complaint are defamatory as a matter of law because all of the statements are opinion — not fact — and the Plaintiff is not clearly identifiable in any of the statements” in a new court filing.
In her lawsuit, Dixon agreed with statements Simmons made during a December podcast interview in which he allegedly tried to discredit the rape allegations against him by six women.
Simmons was a guest on In Depth With Graham Besinger where he explained that he was never “forceful” in his relationships and that anything physical between another woman was consensual.
“If you had more foursomes than most boys at once, could anyone walk away and feel hurt? Could some re-imagine a story from thousands of people? One could want fame in the market where people are hungry for fame, even notoriety,” Simmons said.
Dixon's legal team wrote that Simmons “conducted a concerted and malicious campaign to defame Ms. Dixon and damage her reputation.”
Simmons maintains that he was speaking in general and not about anyone in particular.
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Photo: VALERIE MACON/Getty
