Def Jam co-founder and hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons has escalated his battle with HBO, publicly claiming the network owes him “hundreds of millions” in damages and a formal apology over its handling and continued distribution of the 2020 documentary On The Record, which centers on sexual assault allegations against him.[1][2] The latest accusations surfaced this week on Meta’s Threads platform, where Simmons directly called out HBO and its parent company, alleging “horrific and malicious” conduct and demanding $100 million “for all my charities and family members, specifically my children.”[1]
According to HotNewHipHop, Simmons wrote, “HBO you owe me 100s of millions of dollars… You know what you did was horrific and malicious… I want apology and 100 million. … Time to pay.”[1] His online claims build on an existing legal fight: in June 2025, Simmons filed a $20 million defamation lawsuit in New York state court against HBO, Warner Bros. Discovery, and the filmmakers behind On The Record, alleging the documentary wrongly portrayed him as a serial sexual predator while omitting evidence he says undercuts the accusations.[1][3][4] The film, directed by Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering, premiered at Sundance in 2020 and later streamed on HBO Max, focusing on women including Drew Dixon, Sil Lai Abrams, and Jenny Lumet, who accuse Simmons of sexual misconduct dating back to the 1980s and 1990s.[2][3][4]
In court filings and public statements, Simmons has reportedly claimed the filmmakers and HBO ignored more than 20 witnesses and multiple polygraph tests that he says support his version of events, as well as statements from media figures, civil rights leaders, and members of Congress who allegedly questioned aspects of the documentary.[1][2][3] He also points to Oprah Winfrey’s highly publicized decision to step away from the project before its release, arguing that her exit reflected concerns over inconsistencies in some of the allegations.[1][2][3] Simmons, who has denied all accusations of non-consensual sex, frames the film as a “tremendous” attack on his reputation and legacy in hip-hop and business.[2][3]
HBO and Warner Bros. Discovery have firmly rejected Simmons’ claims. A spokesperson for the company stated that it “dispute[s] Mr. Simmons’ allegations, stand[s] by the filmmakers and their process, and will vigorously defend” against what it calls “unfounded allegations.”[1][3] As the defamation suit moves forward and Simmons’ public demands for $100 million and an apology grow louder, the clash underscores the ongoing tension between #MeToo-era storytelling, the legacies of powerful figures in hip-hop, and the legal limits of challenging documentary portrayals in court.[2][3][4]
