Former music mogul Russell Simmons is suing HBO. He has filed a 20 million defamation lawsuit over the 2020 documentary On The Record. The film follows several women who accuse Simmons of sexual assault and misconduct during the past decade.
In his legal claim, Simmons argues that the filmmakers omitted key evidence that he claims supports his innocence. He insists the documentary misrepresented facts, ignored witnesses who could have helped him, and damaged his reputation in the process. Simmons is seeking two primary remedies from the court. First, he wants On The Record removed from every HBO platform. Second, he seeks 20 million dollars in compensation for what he calls “serious and lasting harm” to his name and career.
More than twenty women have accused Simmons of assault, and a number of their stories appear in the film. Simmons has long denied all the allegations. He stepped away from his companies in 2017 when the complaints became public, but the new lawsuit shows the battle is far from over.
Legal experts note that defamation cases involving public figures can be hard to win because the plaintiff must prove a false statement was made with actual malice. HBO has not yet responded publicly to the suit. The case will move forward in civil court, where a judge will decide whether it should proceed to trial. Until then, the documentary remains available for viewers who wish to see it.