" The film, which focuses on sexual assault and misconduct allegations against Simmons, was released on HBO Max in 2020.

The legal action, initiated by Simmons' attorney Imran Ansari in a Manhattan civil court, claims that the filmmakers neglected evidence that could have supported Simmons' defense. Ansari asserts that significant information provided by Simmons’ representatives was ignored, stating, "Despite voluminous support for Mr. Simmons in the form of credible information, persuasive evidence, witness statements, and calls for further investigation by notable members of the media, politics, and the civil rights movement, the defendants simply disregarded it." Ansari, alongside co-counsel Carla DiMare, accuses the filmmakers of releasing a severely damaging film that the hip-hop mogul vehemently denies.

To succeed in his claim, Simmons must demonstrate that HBO is accountable for recent "republication" of the documentary in international markets, given New York’s one-year statute of limitations for defamation cases. Initially premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2020, the film was originally slated for Apple TV+ as part of Oprah Winfrey's deal with the streaming service. However, HBO Max eventually picked up the documentary after Winfrey withdrew her involvement.

Efforts by Simmons' representatives to engage HBO executives, including Casey Bloys and WarnerMedia CEO John Stankey, reportedly fell on deaf ears. The court filing also indicates that multiple prominent figures in media, politics, and civil rights, as well as board members within the defendant corporations, had encouraged a review of the supporting evidence.

Alongside the $20 million in damages, the lawsuit calls for the documentary's immediate removal from HBO's platforms. Simmons’ legal history includes several sexual misconduct claims, with over 20 women accusing him of sexual assault. Notably, in November 2023, he reached a confidential settlement for $1,265,000 with Sil Lai Abrams, one of the accusers featured in the documentary. Ansari, who filed the lawsuit on Simmons' behalf, is a partner at Aidala, Bertuna & Kamins, the same law firm representing Harvey Weinstein in his criminal retrial.