Media billionaire Oprah Winfrey was recently unexpectedly ‘named’ in the controversial rape lawsuit against hip hop legend Russell Simmons.
According to Page Six , Oprah Winfrey has been subpoenaed by Drew Dixon – one of Russell Simmons’ victims – to provide documents in her ongoing lawsuit against the 68-year-old rapper.
Specifically, Drew Dixon sued Russell Simmons for his statements in a 2023 interview in which he said her rape allegations were not credible. He also mentioned Oprah Winfrey’s withdrawal from her role as executive producer of a 2020 documentary about the incident.
Drew Dixon, former A&R director for Def Jam Records – who accused rapper Russell Simmons of raping her in 1995 when she was 24 years old
PHOTO: INSTAGRAM DEARDREWDIXON
During the interview, Russell Simmons claimed that Oprah Winfrey withdrew from the project because she discovered inconsistencies in the accounts of Drew Dixon and several other women, and even said that the “television queen” was holding recordings with these “contradictory” contents.
Drew Dixon’s lawyers have now formally requested Oprah Winfrey to provide all documents, recordings and other tangible evidence (as told by Russell Simmons). In addition, she has also been summoned to attend a pre- trial deposition , which may be videotaped.
The summons reads: “Oprah Winfrey is required to produce all books, records, data, papers, documents, evidence, documents and all other tangible materials by March 18 at the law office of Boies Schiller Flexner LLP, New York, or send them to the representative attorney.”
Page Six reported that it is still unclear whether Oprah Winfrey will comply with the subpoena on time, or whether her legal team will take action to contest the order.
PHOTO: REUTERS
The case began when Drew Dixon accused Russell Simmons of raping her in 1995 at his Manhattan apartment. According to the story, Russell Simmons invited her to his home to listen to a demo, then lured her into his bedroom and sexually assaulted her while she was unprepared.
Drew Dixon burst into tears and recalled: “I was completely numb. I woke up in the bathtub, naked. I felt like a piece of trash.”
In 2017, inspired by the #MeToo movement, Drew Dixon decided to go public with his story through an interview in The New York Times .
Russell Simmons denied all allegations, claiming that he only had “consensual sexual relationships.”
PHOTO: REUTERS
Drew Dixon’s story later became the inspiration for the documentary On The Record (2020), released by HBO.
Oprah Winfrey was originally an executive producer, but she withdrew from the project, leading to controversy, with Russell Simmons claiming that Oprah Winfrey withdrew because she felt the victims’ stories were not credible.
However, Oprah Winfrey denied this and affirmed: “I did not withdraw from the film because of Russell Simmons. This is not a victory for him. I cannot be silenced by Russell Simmons – after all I have been through.”
She also expressed support for the women who spoke out, saying that creative differences with the film’s crew were the main reason she made this difficult decision.
