Russell Simmons and Brett Ratner have been accused of teaming up to assault a 17-year-old model back in 1991.
Keri Claussen Khalighi says the duo brought her to Simmon's New York apartment to watch a music video. But when they got there, she tells the Los Angeles Times, Simmons began to make aggressive sexual advances toward her and tore off her clothes. She says, “I looked over at Brett and said ‘help me’ and I’ll never forget the look on his face. In that moment, the realization fell on me that they were in it together.”
Khalighi says the Def Jam founder tried to force her to have intercourse. She managed to fight him off but he then "coerced her to perform oral sex." Ratner, she says, “just sat there and watched.”
Afterwards, while Khalighi took a shower, Simmons allegedly walked up behind her and briefly penetrated her without her consent.
In a statement, Simmons “completely and unequivocally” denies the allegations and insists that “everything that happened between us 26 years ago was completely consensual and with Keri’s full participation.”
Ratner’s attorney tells the Times that his client has “no recollection” of Khalighi asking for his help.
This is not the first time Ratner and Simmons have been accused of assaulting women together. In 2001, a woman told Beverly Hills police she had been held against her will at Ratner’s mansion “by two males who both unlawfully touched her.” And earlier this month it was reported that both Simmons and Ratner had been investigated for sexual battery in 2001.
On his own, Ratner has been accused by actresses Olivia Munn and Natasha Henstridge of sexual harassment. Warner Bros. has severed ties with the filmmaker.
Also, Terry Crews says Simmons urged him to give agent Adam Venit a "pass" for allegedly sexually assaulting the actor. Crews tweeted to Simmons: “NO ONE GETS A PASS.” (Yahoo! News)