Jenny Lumet wrote a guest column for The Hollywood Reporter where she tells her #MeToo story about being raped by Russell Simmons. Simmons has now stepped down from his businesses. [The Hollywood Reporter]
What I love about Michael B. Jordan’s 73 Questions for Vogue is that you really get see how geeky and nerdy-sweet he is. [LaineyGossip]
Ridley Scott is totally over Kevin Spacey. [Dlisted]
Warner Bros wanted to fire Zack Snyder after Batman vs. Superman. [Looper]
Scarlett Johansson & Colin Jost are getting serious now. [Wonderwall]
Farrah Abraham is mad at Teen Mom producers. [Starcasm]
Margot Robbie reminds me that I used to have a brown suede jacket and I have no idea what happened to it. [GoFugYourself]
Prince George sent a handwritten letter to Santa. [JustJared]
Ghosted is apparently a popular show. [Seriously OMG WTF]
Her story is horrifying.
What struck me is that she has SO many details. Obviously, this incident is seared in her mind and heart, but I also wonder if she feels obligated to be as detailed as possible, lest someone doubt her.
THIS: “I have built a life in the past 25 years and a reputation in my industry. I need no one to have this visualization of me. I will, like the others, lose work because of this. I realize how privileged I am to be able to risk that. I have children. I’m aware that every mistake, act of thoughtlessness, hypocrisy or cruelty I’ve committed in my 50 years will be excavated, and they’ll see all of it.
There is so much guilt, and so much shame. There is an excruciating internal reckoning. As a woman of color, I cannot express how wrenching it is to write this about a successful man of color. Again, shame about who I was years ago, choices made years ago. In this very moment, I feel a pang to protect your daughters. I don’t think you are inclined to protect mine.”
…made me cry like a baby
Kitten, what she is describing is very common among trauma survivors, which is heightened sensory recall. When we’re placed in highly stressful or fearful situations, our senses will focus on more minute details. She can recall clothing details, sounds, the details of the building enteance, etc. That is keeping in line with traumatic experience response, which makes her even more credible. It’s why so many victims can describe things like their attacker’s smell, or small details like skin condition, tattoos, etc but might struggle with larger details. She went through something awful, it’s blatant from her description.
Yes. Her words are so powerful. It is devastating to read, I can’t imagine having lived it. You can really tell how much this one evening is still impacting her life.
It makes me wonder how many other women he abused this way. The choreography of the driver and Russell made it sound routine.
Wow. I haven’t read her essay yet. I will.
I was just yesterday told by a writer that her newest book will attempt to debunk why women claim to be raped by men who seem “small in stature”. I told her that one person’s me too might be another’s “so what”; I now have the language to call out “victim shaming”. Years ago, I was at a yoga training, and my friends and I couldn’t understand, at the time, why “massage therapists” would go directly to His room at night. I understand so much now, that I didn’t get back then. I can thank CB writers & posts for an important education. The whole world is changing and I’m on the right side of Herstory.
When recollecting, she actually sounded so young, confused, and scared (notice the staccato and repetition). In present time, her voice rings of maturity, reflection, introspection, and obviously ongoing healing. It’s riveting.
It made me cry.
I hate him so much. I hope he is shamed in his daughter’s eyes.
Please tell me his brother is nothing like him. I love Run DMC.
Jenny Lumet is my new hero.
When she says, “I need no one to have this visualization of me. I will lose work because of this.” I wanted to cry. She is the VICTIM. She, im sure, doesn’t want anyone to have this visual of her, but because it was violating, painful, unwanted and unwelcome. She should never feel ashamed (as if she had something to do w it, or as if it were her fault, or her choice), and she should never, ever lose work over it Bc let me reiterate, she is the VICTIM. This should never happen to women (or anyone).
Jenny Lumet has BIGTIME LEGACY behind her (Lena Horne’s granddaughter, Sidney Lumet’s daughter, eventual screenwriter of “Rachel Getting Married”) and it didnt “protect” her, so imagine the countless “name”less/voiceless/faceless/powerless victims. Good for her for no longer being silent/silenced.
that’s what’s so shocking to me – so many women who have some degree of legacy/privileged/standing that you’d think would offer some protection were not only targeted but they didn’t even feel safe/secure/confident enough to tell others about their ordeals
and yet, when it comes to politics . . .
this is such a sad commentary about our society
Yep she has a Hollywood royalty pedigree and she was still assaulted.
Russ pursued Kimora when she was 14. That’s always told me all I needed to know about him.
He was granted supervised visitation only with his children when he and Kimora divorced. That’s always told me all I need to know about him..
WOW really? Shady…
There probably was a dang good reason for the supervised visits too but was kept out of the public eye due to him wielding his power around to keep it covered up.
The courage of someone with that sort of legacy, knowing, as Rose McGowan put it, that her name will now be coupled with his in her obituary… she just nailed him to the wall, because she cannot be dismissed as the others were being.
So, so many awful men. It’s beyond depressing. The only positive to be drawn is that they are no longer safe to abuse with impunity… and how many brave and extraordinary women are responsible for that.
I’m not surprised by Russell Simmons. His relationship under age Kimora who was 14 when they meet always rub me the wrong way.
Oh look another day another prominent man for the garbage heap who deserves to die slowly and painfully! Must be a day ending in “-day”!
F*** this f***ing POS for his earlier interview “strenuously denying” any such conduct.
On top of that having the f@cking nerve to tell Terry Crews to give that guy who assaulted him a pass. I guess he thinks he deserves a pass for assaulting women.
Are there any men who have not abused their positions????
I forgot about that!!!!! Holy crap, this really makes his awful statement so much worse.
he told Terry Crews to give it a pass?! JFC!!
Also made a statement on how great an ally he is. He is utter scum:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/terry-crews-russell-simmonds-email-new-sexual-assault-allegations-a8065856.html
Just when you those he couldn’t get any worse.
Damn it. It just doesn’t stop. I just want to say how sorry I am to every single woman who reads this who has a story like this one. We all have stories, but some truly are more horrific and scarring than others. My heart goes out to you, I will always believe you, and I am eternally your ally.
I’m thankful that Jenny came forward because it really looked like society was all too ready to deem Russell’s other accusers as not being credible because they weren’t famous enough. Let’s not forget that no one was listening about Weinstein until heavy hitters like Angelina and Goop came out and said he was disgusting with them also. It’s only been since Jenny Lumet came out and told her story that Russell Simmons seems to be accepting that his time is up. This worthless POS was ready to just ignore the other women and move along. Thanks to Jenny sharing her difficult truth, he doesn’t get to do that.
Today’s Fresh Air was very timely. It took on the abuse issue, with a large part devoted to Anita Hill. It made the point that so many women didn’t come forward when they were abused because of the way they knew they’d be treated. Anita Hill was demonized, called a liar, a witch, an erotomaniac. They also mentioned that the dam didn’t really break until women with power-Gwyneth, Angie-came forward. Nobody could say they were there for money or fame, they already had that. It’s definitely worth listening to.
Heard it !! Great interview!
So sad. And so was the one that came out a week or so ago about the young woman who was assaulted by Simmons while a young Brett Rattner watched. And it was also very disturbing when Simmons emailed Terry Crewes to encourage him to give the predator a “pass” in relation to his personal experience. All of these men have behaved so horribly for so long. I am beyond words at this point.
Wow, just awful.
The following statement from Simmons is the damn near the MOST horrifying part of this whole putrid mess…
“While her memory of that evening is very different from mine, it is now clear to me that her feelings of fear and intimidation are real.”
REALLY RUSSELL?!?! REALLY? A woman who tells you NO…who you kidnap and take to your place…after she tells you NO…you NOW realize that wasn’t cool?!?!
I can’t with this…because you gotta think of HOW MANY OTHERS DID HE DO THIS TOO!
Who don’t have what she does and weren’t able to get past it. What an amazing and horrifying and brave account of what she has gone through. All the props, all the respect for Ms. Lumet.
Agree, and f**k his spiritual reckoning. Rapists don’t get to be “spiritual” about their assaults, you utter scumbag. This was spine chilling, and anyone reading it can feel how palpable her fear and helplessness were. The fact she held it together for so many years having to be around him is so sad too.
Russel has been known to be a perv who went after teenage girls. It is rampant. And I don’t give someone like Jay Z (or Dame Dash for that matter) a pass either. He was already in his mid 20’s when he was rumored to have something with Aaliyah (Dame Dash confirmed it) and he “courted” Beyonce when she barely 18 (which is the “official” statement) but people were hearing about them since she was about 16/17, and he was almost 30. He just happened to eventually marry her so it’s ok now.
Get ’em!
There were rumours about him for years, but people pushed it aside as just being rumours, guess not.
its raining men! literally… and let them FALL!
Just horrifying. And even more horrifying . . . how many women did he do this to. The way Jenny Lumet describes the setup, the lack of emotion from the driver, etc., this sounds like a commonplace occurrence for Simmons.
Posting this from another board. Its that moment a conservative dude becomes an ally.
Ben H:
“All the stuff about ‘rape culture’ and so on from liberal women sounds overwrought, but now that we’ve learned more about the culture of the liberal men they have to deal with it makes a lot more sense.
Imagine going to work in the morning and having to dodge naked Charlie Rose while trying to stay out of Matt Lauers magic locking office. In the afternoon you have an interview with Al Franken to look forward to…so to take a breather you go into the copy room and there is Louis CK, masturbating in your general direction! Compared to this radical feminism totally makes tons of sense.”
Meh. Notice that he hasn’t mentioned all of the Fox pervs let go because of numerous instances of sexual harassment nor Republican politicians known as pervs, has he? No ally. Just a dig at liberals.
He conveniently forgot about the $30million lawsuit paid out by Fox due to Bill O’Reilly and Roger Ailes’ shenanigans as well as the other settlements.
I’m waiting for the corporate and political no tolerance movement to affect the criminal justice system as it pertains to sexual predators of children. I think society has gotten used to seeing criminals do hard time for stealing and drug dealing while child molesters and rapists get 6 mos and when they happen to catch these guys red handed they typically have rap sheets a mile long.
Take the case in my state that went nationwide…rapist kidnaps and impregnated 12yo, she has the baby. He does less than a year. She files for assistance from the state 6 yrs later and a judge gives her rapist joint custody. The rapist who in the interim raped a 14yr old and did only 4 years in prison. Yes the custody thing was ‘straightened out,’ with mix up blamed on absent paper work, but aside from that horror show, please tell me why a child rapist gets so little time? While a black kid selling a dime bag to feed his family does 5-10?
Don’t get the need to go political with commander in pu**y grabbing dementia is running your country. Like having Speaker of House Hastert (child molester convicted) Larry ‘wide stance’ Craig, Roger Ailes, Bill Oreilly, Bolling, Mark Halperin, etc. lighting the perv torch first is easily forgotten
This guy has always pings my creepdar. Never bought his whole Zen I Am character. I didn’t know he got with Kimora so young or the supervision condition.
Women of the world, I promise I am trying to raise a gentleman. Manners, no means no is a mantra, and boys & girls can grow up to be anything the choose. Selfishly I have also taught him girls like flowers from the grocery store so he is awesome lol
Such a terrifying, sinister account of her assault, and so well written.
And his bullsh*t ‘namaste’ response…
W-o-w.
I am beyond angry at Russell Simmons cultural (Mal) appropriation of yoga. Yoga was designed to lead us to better selves of ourselves, to control our desires, our minds and our bodies. I f**** hate that he calls himself a yogi and wears the mala(beads), without understanding the intent.
Hindus wear the mala as a dedication to God and as a reminder to give up on alcohol and other desires. Just stop calling yourself a yogi, dude. You haven’t earned the right!
Read about the sexual assault cases against the founder o Bikram yoga, the article was in the Dec 2013 issue of Vanity Fair, and can be read online.
yeah. but that doesn’t make him a yogi either. it is a way of life which involves making sacrifices and giving up conspicuous consumption. if you have time you should read up on yoga sutras.
I am guessing that there are more victims out there. Very sad!
I’m not sure why, but this is the first account that has made me actually cry. Maybe it’s because she’s a good writer, but I just felt all of her pain.
What she said about wanting to protect his daughters but doubting he would protect hers hit hard too.
There is such strength in solidarity. She felt compelled to speak after the first victim did, and probably just paved the way for others too.
I hope David Life and Sharon Gannon, his “yoga” teachers come out and denounce him
If you read his response to her essay, he admits nothing. He doesn’t really mention what occurred except that she has a different memory of the night. He’s completely vague. I think he’s definitely aware of what happened.
It is such an important article. Rape is complex and does not always involve being shoved against a wall. I hope other women who have been through something similar will come forward. Even if they aren’t speaking up against a famous person.
It’s a very powerful story because out of so many we’ve heard, I feel it goes quite far in accurately describing that sense of flight or freeze that happens. When something like telling the driver your address twice and hearing ‘no’ and then doors locking – how that sets a chain of thoughts going in your head that prioritizes just getting out of the situation alive.
I don’t know how she could bring herself to be around him socially for so many years after the incident. I would have physically been disgusted and found any excuse not to smile, take photos, or converse with him.