Russell Simmons Hints New Legal Action With Oprah Winfrey

Russell Simmons’ cryptic comment about Oprah Winfrey has us wondering whether their beef is about to flare up once again.

Russell Simmons has plenty on his mind these days.

The Hip-Hop pioneer is still mourning the heartbreaking loss of his older brother, Danny Simmons, who passed away recently. Danny was much more than Russell’s brother. He was a respected painter, cultural force and a major influence behind many of Russell’s philanthropic efforts over the years. His impact stretched far beyond the art world. We still send out deepest condolences.

But while Russell grieves one chapter of his life, another old controversy has returned.

Oprah Winfrey recently found herself catching serious heat online after comments she made about Whitney Houston during a recent appearance. Oprah recalled Whitney allegedly falling during preparations for her 2009 interview and suggested the singer had relapsed at the time. That version of events was quickly challenged by Whitney Houston’s estate and others who were present, including her former hairstylist, who insist Whitney’s fall happened during a sound check because of the stage setup, not because she was under the influence.

As the backlash spread across Threads, the new Twitter, Russell Simmons unexpectedly entered the chat. Here’s the comment.

Russell left a pointed comment. The post was brief, but he still has a bone to pick with Oprah. Perhaps he holds her responsible, at least in part, for the cloud that formed around him during the rollout of the documentary “On the Record.” You remember that, right?

To be crystal clear, Russell did not FILE a lawsuit yet. The comment is clear: something is coming.

Here is some history.

You’ll remember Oprah originally signed on as executive producer of the documentary centered on sexual misconduct allegations against Russell Simmons. Days before its Sundance debut, she withdrew from the project, saying she believed more reporting and additional context were needed. At the same time, she repeatedly said she believed the women who accused Simmons and insisted Russell’s public pressure campaign had nothing to do with her decision. The film ultimately went on to be released through another distributor.

Russell, meanwhile, has consistently denied all allegations against him.

Whether his recent comment was a warning shot or nothing more than social media venting OR LEGAL ACTION PENDING…remains to be seen. One thing is certain: IT AIN’T OVER.

And I have to admit, watching all of this unfold while Black America continues facing challenges from every direction – especially the Far Right – is bittersweet. We no shortage of internal drama.

What do you think?

Related