Kimora Lee Simmons shared a heartfelt message to her daughter, Aoki Lee Simmons, on Instagram on her birthday.
Simmons' post praised the qualities that she loves in her daughter. “Happy birthday to my darling, sweet, beautiful, smart, long legged, amazing, gorgeous baby @aokileesimmons!,” she wrote. “Cheers to you! We are all so amazed by you! Blessings today and many more to come! Hold your head high and continue to shine! I love you so much! 😘💋💕🎉🎂🥂❤.”
This adorable birthday post comes months after Simmons commented on Aoki’s viral images that featured her kissing 65-year-old Serafina Restaurant Group founder Vittorio Assaf.
When asked about the pictures by TMZ, because of the similar age gap between then-17-year-old Kimora when she met Def Jam founder Russell Simmons when he was 35, Kimora stood behind their daughter.
“She’s a young, pretty girl and I think that we don’t think that the toads that we may kiss is going to be broadcast,” she said. “I personally feel a little bit like she was set up. There’s definitely an age dynamic there.”
“I probably was a little embarrassed but you know me, I was definitely like, ‘It is what it is, honey. Come on home, let’s go. Mama’s got your back.’”
Russell, similarly, supported his daughter a few days after the photos hit the internet. “I’m not going to kick and scream about her choices,” he said. “All I can do is offer my advice and unconditional love.”
Aoki herself dismissed the notion that she was dating Assaf long-term. On Instagram Live she referred to him as her “second boyfriend” before days later, saying “Of course, I’m not with him. I was never with him,” according to a source.