US EditionRussell Simmons Sues HBO for $20M over Defamation in Documentary
- On June 3, 2025, Russell Simmons initiated a $20 million defamation suit in a New York court targeting HBO, WarnerMedia’s parent company, and the creators of the 2020 film *On the Record*.
- The lawsuit alleges the documentary misrepresented sexual assault allegations against Simmons by omitting testimony from over twenty individuals who contradicted the claims and that executives were aware of this evidence.
- Simmons' attorneys assert the defendants disregarded credible evidence, including nine lie detector tests he passed, and sought removal of the film from all platforms due to its defamatory content.
- The film was directed by Oscar-nominated filmmakers Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering, and was originally linked to Oprah Winfrey, who later withdrew from the project citing doubts about the reliability of the claims presented.
- The lawsuit highlights ongoing reputational damage to Simmons, with calls from notable media, political, and civil rights figures for further investigation, while the defendants continue international distribution of the film.
38 Articles
38 Articles
Black America Web
Russell Simmons Sues HBO For $20M Over ‘On The Record’ Doc
Russell Simmons has launched a lawsuit against HBO for $20 million over the release of the 2020 documentary, On The Record, which detailed a number of he mogul’s sexual assault allegations. Simmons also named the filmmakers behind the production of the documentary. Russell Simmons, 67, filed the lawsuit in a Manhattan court on Tuesday (June 3), naming HBO and On The Record direcctors, Amy Ziering and Kirby Dick as reported by Deadline. In the su…
Russell Simmons Files $20 Million Lawsuit Against HBO Over ‘On the Record’ Doc
Russell Simmons has filed a $20 million lawsuit against HBO and the creators of On the Record, claiming the 2020 doc defamed him and ignored key evidence that supported his denial of sexual misconduct allegations. Filed in Manhattan civil court by attorney Imran Ansari, the suit accuses filmmakers Amy Ziering and Kirby Dick of pushing a “salacious and defamatory” narrative while ignoring statements and evidence from Simmons’ camp and high-profil…
The spokesman-Review
New Hampshire Union LeaderRussell Simmons sues HBO for $20 million over doc alleging sexual misconduct
Russell Simmons has filed a lawsuit against HBO and the makers of the 2020 documentary “On the Record,” claiming defamation for their allegations of sexual assault and misconduct.
Russell Simmons sues HBO for $20M over defamation in documentary
Russell Simmons has filed a $20 million defamation lawsuit against HBO, Warner Bros. Discovery, and the filmmakers of the 2020 documentary On the Record. The lawsuit, submitted in Manhattan Supreme Court, alleges the film damaged his reputation and business interests by presenting a biased narrative that ignored critical exculpatory evidence. Simmons, a pioneer of hip-hop culture and co-creator of HBO's Def Comedy Jam and Def Poetry, claims the …
Russell Simmons Sues HBO, 'On the Record' Filmmakers for $20 Million, Claims Documentarians Defamed Him and Ignored Evidence
Russell Simmons has sued HBO and the filmmakers who made the Max original documentary “On the Record,” which examines the sexual assault allegations against the hip-hop and business mogul. The lawsuit, which demands $20 million in damages and has been obtained by TheWrap, claims the doc defamed him and disregarded evidence he and his legal team presented to the entertainment company — proof he said supports his side of the alleged incidents. The…
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