UPDATE: A spokesperson for Russell Simmons has provided us with the following statement: "The anonymous accuser’s assertion that Mr. Simmons is hiding out in Bali, a country that does not have any extradition treaty with the United States, is false, as are her other accusations against Mr. Simmons, which she claims took place 31 years ago. Likewise, the accusation that Mr. Simmons has traveled to Bali many times over the years, but in the midst of multiple accusations last year, has not yet returned is also false. The fact is Mr. Simmons has been in and out of the United States six times in the last year and will be back for his child’s graduation. The accuser, who has been convicted of a crime, is hoping to hit the lottery in this case, asking at least $10 million based on these false allegations."
Russell Simmons was one of the first men in the music industry to be accused of sexual assault during the rise of the #MeToo movement. He's denied any wrongdoing, even launching a movement called #NotMe, but the judge denied his plea of a dismissal. Now, the music mogul was reportedly set to be deposed but, according to one of his accusers, he fled the country to dodge prosecution.
Simmons was recently spotted in Indonesia where he's reportedly searching for spiritual enlightenment, but The Blast reports that one of his accusers claims he only went to the country in order to protect himself. She said that he “fled to Indonesia which has no extradition treaty with the United States in an apparent attempt to protect himself.”
Simmons has been trying to get the case thrown out over "unsubstantiated allegations," continuing to claim that Jane Doe filed the suit after the statute of limitation expired.
Doe claims she has a thorough case behind her evidence and had planned on questioning Simmons during a deposition. However, because Simmons is in Indonesia, she says, It is unlikely he will return to the United States to be deposed in this case and face arrest and imprisonment.”
Simmons has frequently traveled to Bali in the past, but following the allegations that emerged last year, he went and decided to stay.
