Russell Simmons and 50 Cent accuse Oprah of bashing Black men in sexual misconduct documentary

Russell Simmons has a question for Oprah Winfrey: Why is she singling him out in her upcoming #MeToo documentary set to air next year?

“Dearest OPRAH, you have been a shining light to my family and my community. Contributing so much to my life that I couldn’t list a fraction of it in this blog. I have given you the gift of meditation and the groundbreaking book ‘THE POWER OF NOW’ we bonded to say the least. This is why it’s so troubling that you choose me to single out in your recent documentary,” Simmons posted on Instagram along with the photo of himself with Winfrey.

It’s being reported by Fox News that Drew Dixon, who formerly worked at Def Jam, will be featured in the #MeToo documentary. Two years ago, Dixon, the daughter of former Washington, D.C. Mayor Sharon Pratt Kelly, told The New York Times that Simmons raped her back in the mid-1990s. Simmons vehemently denies this allegation.

READ MORE: New documentary examines why Black girls are punished more in schools

Simmons, however, does acknowledge his part in a number of “embarrassing” and “compromising situations” with women, but said he never crossed the line into misconduct.

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Dearest OPRAH,you have been a shining light to my family and my community. Contributing so much to my life that I couldn’t list a fraction of it in this blog.Ihave given you the gift of meditation and the groundbreaking book”THE POWER OF NOW “we bonded to say the least. This is why it’s so troubling that you choose me to single out in your recent documentry. I have already admitted to being a playboy more (appropriately titled today “womanizer”) sleeping with and putting myself in more compromising situations than almost any man I know. Not 8 or 14 thousand like Warren Beatty or Wilt Chamberlain, but still an embarrassing number. So many that some could reinterpret or reimagine a different recollection of the same experiences. Please note that ur producers said that this upcoming doc was to focus ONLY on 3 hand chosen women. I have refused to get in the mud with any accusers, but let’s acknowledge what i have shared. I have taken and passed nine 3-hour lie detector tests (taken for my daughters), that these stories have been passed on by CNN, NBC, BUZZFEED, NY POST, NY MAG, AND OTHERS. Now that you have reviewed the facts and you SHOULD have learned what I know; that these stories are UNUSABLE and that “hurt people hurt people”. Today I received a call from an old girlfriend from the early 1980s which means that they are using my words/evidence against me and their COMMITMENT/ (all of the claims are 25 to 40 years old) It is impossible to prove what happened 40 years ago, but in my case proof exists of what didn’t happen, mostly signed letters from their own parents, siblings, roommates, band members, interns, and in the case of 2 of your 3 accusers,their own words in their books. Shocking how many people have misused this important powerful revolution for relevance and money. Maybe you should name your documentary “FLAVOR OF LOVE”!? In closing, I am guilty of exploiting, supporting, and making the soundtrack for a grossly unequal society, but i have never been violent or forced myself on anyone. Still I am here to help support a necessary shift in power and consciousness. Let us get to work on uplifting humanity and put this moment and old narrative behind us

A post shared by Russell Simmons (@unclerush) on Dec 13, 2019 at 6:35am PST

“I have taken and passed nine, three-hour lie detector tests (taken for my daughters), that these stories have been passed on by CNN, NBC, BUZZFEED, NY POST, NY MAG, AND OTHERS,” Simmons posted.

Simmons remarks that if he is guilty of anything, it is of “exploiting, supporting, and making the soundtrack for a grossly unequal society, but I have never been violent or forced myself on anyone.”

The rap label executive appears to have public support from entrepreneur/rapper 50 Cent who is slamming Winfrey for focusing her upcoming documentary on Simmons. He points out that there is a clear line of discrimination at hand when Black men including Bill Cosby and R. Kelly are in prison while high-profile white men accused of sexual assault are not.

“I just want to know why she is only going after her own,” 50 tweeted. “When it’s clear the penalties have been far more extreme for African American men.”

READ MORE: 50 Cent tells critics of remixed ‘Power’ theme song to ‘Chill Out’

Last week, 50 went a step further. “No Harvey Weinstein, No (Jeffrey) Epstein, just Micheal Jackson and Russell Simmons this s**t is sad. These documentary’s are publicly convicting their targets, it makes them guilty till proven innocent.”

Winfrey’s #MeToo documentary will focus on the music industry and is part of her overall deal with Apple TV+. She has made no comment in return to Simmons or 50.