In a recently filed lawsuit, a woman identified as Jane Doe has come forward with allegations of sexual assault against music executive Russell Simmons in the 1990s. Doe, who currently resides in Los Angeles, claims that Simmons raped her at his New York home while she was working as a senior level music executive at Def Jam Recordings.

The lawsuit, which was filed on February 13 in a New York federal court, outlines Doe's professional relationship with Simmons. As a music video producer in the early 1990s, she frequently worked on videos for Def Jam Recordings. She eventually transitioned to working in-house at Def Jam, overseeing film production and managing a demanding release schedule for numerous artists.

Doe asserts that her interactions with Simmons were initially professional and devoid of flirtation. However, she alleges that Simmons began making unwanted advances, invading her personal space, and engaging in explicit sexual innuendos. According to the complaint, the alleged assault occurred when Doe brought a rough cut of a video to Simmons' apartment for approval. It was during this encounter that Simmons reportedly escalated his advances, ultimately pinning Doe down and raping her despite her repeated refusals.

Following the alleged assault, Doe claims to have quit Def Jam in 1997 and pursued a career as an executive producer for film and commercial production companies. However, she states that the incident significantly impacted her relationships with employers and caused overwhelming anxiety, leading her to ultimately relocate from New York to California.

Jane Doe is suing Russell Simmons for sexual battery/assault, false imprisonment, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and violation of the New York City Gender Motivated Violence Act under the state's Adult Survivors Act and Gender Motivated Violence Act.

In response to the lawsuit, Doe's attorneys, Kenya K. Davis and Sigrid McCawley, released a statement highlighting the impact of Simmons' alleged actions on their client's professional and personal life. They emphasize that Doe's experience mirrors that of many other women who have been targeted by Simmons over the course of several decades.

Russell Simmons, who sold Def Jam Recordings in 1999, has faced multiple allegations of sexual assault and misconduct since 2017. He has consistently denied the accusations and stepped down from his various companies as more women came forward with claims against him. Previous lawsuits filed against Simmons by Jennifer Jarosik and an individual identified as Jane Doe were either dropped or dismissed due to statute of limitations issues.

Pitchfork has reached out to representatives of Russell Simmons for comment on the latest allegations. If you or someone you know has been affected by sexual assault, it is important to seek support and assistance.