Russell Simmons Ordered to Pay $3 Million in Sexual Assault Settlements

Russell Simmons, the former Def Jam mogul, has been ordered to pay $3 million in settlements after failing to comply with agreements reached with three women who accused him of sexual assault. Court documents revealed that journalist Sil Lai Abrams, Sherri Abernathy, and Wendy Carolina Franco filed confessions of judgment in New York County Supreme Court.

Confessions of judgment are legal tools that allow plaintiffs to collect money more quickly if the defendant defaults on a settlement agreement. These confessions were part of confidential settlement agreements the women entered into with Simmons in November 2023. Simmons had agreed to pay $1,265,000 each to Abrams and Abernathy, and $515,000 to Franco by October 1, but the payments have not been received.

The specific details of Simmons’ alleged misconduct towards Abernathy and Franco were not disclosed, but Abrams had previously accused Simmons of raping her in 1994. These accusations add to the more than 20 women who have come forward over the past decade with similar claims against Simmons.

In February 2024, a former Def Jam employee known as Jane Doe accused Simmons of raping her in the late 1990s. Another former executive, Drew Dixon, filed a defamation suit after Simmons labeled her a “liar” following her sexual assault allegations. Simmons, who now resides in Bali, maintains his innocence but agreed to the settlements with Abrams, Abernathy, and Franco. The industry darkness surrounding these allegations continues to be a stain on the entertainment industry.