Russell Simmons‘ once squeaky clean brand now finds itself flung to the filthiest of pits now that several women have accused him of raping them.
The latest lady to step forward with a story? One of the stars of MTV’s hit show ‘The Hills.’
Kelly Cutrone enjoyed a brilliant career as a publicist and fashion heavyweight before joining the show in 2008 and went on to enjoy success as a judge on ‘America’s Next Top Model.’
Alas, what wasn’t so brilliant is the story she tells about the time Mr. Simmons tried to assault her.
Page Six has the exclusive…
Cutrone told Page Six that in 1991, when she was 26, she bumped into Simmons — whom she knew as a casual acquaintance — at a party and walked with him to another party. She tells us that he invited her to his apartment, and when she declined, the mogul said he needed to drop in at a friend’s house. Cutrone says she agreed to go, but she believes he led her to his own apartment instead.
“He pushed me into his apartment and then he threw me down on the floor and literally tried to grab … take my clothes off of me,” Cutrone told us, “And I started kicking him really, really hard, screaming, telling him to get the f–k off of me. And that I would have him killed if he ever f–king laid a hand on me.” She added, “I actually think I told him I would call Page Six! I was a publicist! I think I told him I would call Page Six and have him murdered.”
One of Cutrone’s friends claims that they can verify this story.
Kelly added…
Then what would happen afterward — and this would happen years afterward — I’d be at a table and Russell f–king Simmons would come up to the table and then people would be like, ‘Kelly, do you know Russell?,’ and I’d be like, ‘Yes, I know Russell — he tried to rape me.’”
Why she’s telling her story now?
All these guys [who have been accused of rape, including Simmons and Harvey Weinstein] have been doing is, like, go, like, ‘Hey, I’m really, really sorry and I’m going to step away from my business.”But you know what, a lot of these women have to go to work everyday because they have to pay bills and they haven’t made $100 million.I hope he chokes on his om pendant.
Russell had this to say in response…
In recent weeks, some former business, creative and romantic partners have aired grievances as claims I categorically reject. In some of these instances, financial motives and direct contradictory witness testimony has been supplied to the media, which has been completely left out of stories. In the last few days, one woman attempted to extort me for $500,000 only to recant her ridiculous claim. I have already apologized for the instances of thoughtlessness in my consensual relations. I have separated myself from my businesses and charities in order to not become a distraction.