Hip-Hop Mogul Russell Simmons Accused Of Sexual Misconduct

Hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons, founder of Def Jam Records, has been accused of sexual misconduct, and the allegations involve filmmaker Brett Ratner. The Los Angeles Times reported on Sunday that Model Keri Claussen Khalighi alleges that in 1991, when she was 17, Simmons and Ratner sexually assaulted her. She told The Times, "I looked over at Brett and said 'help me' and I'll never forget the look on his face." Another woman, Tanya Reid, told The Times that she had an encounter with both of the men in 1994, where she was forced by Simmons to perform oral sex on Ratner. Both Simmons and Ratner told The Times that they have no recollection of the incident. They do acknowledge being with Khalighi, but deny that it was nonconsensual.