Russell Simmons, the media mogul and co-founder of Def Jam Recordings, is facing serious legal consequences after failing to meet a $3 million settlement agreement with three women, including one of his sexual assault accusers.
According to newly filed court documents, Simmons agreed to the payments in 2023 as part of a settlement to resolve allegations brought against him by the women.
Despite the agreement, Simmons has yet to fulfill his financial obligations.
As reported by Variety, Simmons was required to pay a total of $3 million by October 1, 2024, for what was described in court filings as compensation for “claimant’s alleged personal, physical injuries, and sickness.”
The settlement was intended to avoid further legal action, but his failure to pay has now opened the door for the women to pursue more aggressive collection methods. This could include seizing Simmons’ assets such as his properties and vehicles.
The settlement amounts include $1,265,000 each to two accusers, Sil Lai Abrams and Sherri Abernathy, and $515,000 to Wendy Carolina Franco.
Simmons has not admitted any wrongdoing as part of the settlement, but the agreement was designed to resolve the allegations.
With more than 20 women accusing Simmons of sexual misconduct, his legal troubles continue to grow. Although Simmons took nine lie detector tests in an attempt to prove his innocence, the allegations remain unresolved in the eyes of many.
Simmons is currently living in Bali, Indonesia, a country that does not have an extradition treaty with the United States, raising questions about whether he will return to the U.S. to face potential legal consequences.
The accusers’ next step would be to file for court-ordered asset seizure, signaling that the legal battle is far from over.
