Russell Simmons Denies Avoiding Prosecution, Defends Friends Visiting Him in Bali: ‘Knock It Off’

Russell Simmons has some harsh words for people criticizing his famous friends that come to visit him in Bali, like Taraji P. Henson and Usher.

The former media mogul, who’s been accused of sexual assault by multiple women, posted a video in response to the people that come after his friends, asking them to “knock it off.”

“I love you, I just don’t want my friends attacked and I wish you all the best,” he said. “But just leave my friends alone. Don’t attack my friends for visiting me.”

Before issuing this warning to the people against him, he addressed the Black community by reminding them of everything he’s done from a social lens.

“Black people, did you forget that I got 10,000 Black men out of jail?” he said. “And that I changed the factory farming industry forever. And that I registered more of you to vote than probably anybody you know. And I worked for Black Lives Matter and every movement that’s helped our people, all the women’s rights, even gay rights. Movements that I did so much work for to let them demonize me in such a way that my friends cannot visit me without you attacking them.”

“But yet you stand by Donald Trump,” continued Simmons. “Knock it off.”

Simmons also, surprisingly, addressed the accusations against him — explaining that he’s never been formally charged or questioned by law enforcement.

“Still today, I have never spoken to a policeman about anything,” he added. “I have never spoken to a judge, civil or criminal, about anything. From what I can tell Joe Biden, Bill Clinton and President Trump all have more credible claims against them than I do.”

To let everyone know that he isn’t ducking the police in the United States by being in Bali to avoid being prosecuted, he announced that he’s coming back to the Big Apple very soon. “I’ll be in New York next week,” he said. “This idea that I’m hiding is stupid.”

Earlier this month, Simmons posted a picture with Henson and thanked her for coming to see him. “You make everyone happy just with your presence, love you, baby girl, you are back home safe now,” he wrote. “And already you are missed. Until we meet again darling only love. PS you mean so much to so many people, keep inspiring us all!!!”

Back in March, Simmons shared a post that revealed Usher had dropped in for a visit too. “When i was at the lowest point in my life i woke up and this man was sitting by my bed," Simmons wrote. "i had known usher since he was a kid but we really bonded because of our mutual love for self discovery and our belief in Yogic science as a direct route to realizing Gods conciousness in ourselves ...People remember to remember this ..a friend walks in when others walk out ... i will never forget the generosity of spirit i witnessed in this man God bless you baby bro @usher 🙏🏾 love you !!!!"

Simmons has been in Bali since 2018, following multiple sexual harassment, rape, and sexual misconduct allegations — even though he’s fiercely denied the allegations.