Russell Simmons Accuser Calls Out His "Spritual" Defense

Two of Russell Simmons' accusers discussed in detail their experiences with the media mogul Tuesday — and one is calling bogus on his "spiritual awakening" defense.

Natashia Williams-Blach, who says Simmons tried to force her into oral sex, and Sherri Hines, who alleges that he raped her, recalled the fight or flight instincts that kicked in when the Def Jam co-founder attempted to abuse his power.

"You just realize you escaped a minefield. I went into an automatic, 'You just gotta go. You got to get out," Williams-Blach told "Megyn Kelly Today."

Williams-Blach, who appeared in the Simmons-produced film "How to Be a Player," said he took her to a yoga class in 1996 and afterward tried to force her into performing oral sex. She escaped by telling him she needed to go study, as she was an 18-year-old UCLA freshman at the time.

Simmons has denied the accusations against him in recent statements by claiming he's dedicating himself to spiritual learning and healing. In one statement, he announced plans to convert his Los Angeles yoga studio into a not-for-profit center of learning and healing.

Williams-Blach said it was these continued denials that inspired her to come forward with her story.

"I followed this story when it emerged, and I wasn't going to say anything at all. He said, 'How can I be a rapist when I'm a yogi and a vegan.' I don't know why that's relevant. You can't make this up! We literally just went to yoga, we did downward dog before you acted like a dog," she said.

"It is true that when you are feeling like growing and expanding spiritually it's usually you find that you're having problems in other areas of your life. Maybe you're deluded. I say denial stands for, 'Don't even know I'm lying.'"

Hines, meanwhile, came forward last week to accuse Simmons of rape. She said he invited her to his New York office after a night out in 1983 and pinned her down as soon as they arrived.

"I was like, 'No, get off me, what are you doing?' I was trying to maneuver and get out of it. I'm a Bronx girl, so I was ready, I was like, 'I'm gonna have to hurt this guy.' But he just held me down," she told Kelly.

Hines, who was previously a member of the female DJ rap group Mercedes Ladies, added that the encounter left her feeling crushed.

"I just couldn't believe I was just violated like that, and more so, I felt embarrassed, I felt used, worthless," she said. "The way I felt at the time, like, I can't believe this man just violated me like I was nothing."

She previously told the Daily News that she's been contacted by the NYPD regarding her allegations.

Simmons is currently facing accusations of rape or sexual assault from at least a dozen women.

In multiple statements, he has denied all claims against him, and even launched his own #NotMe movement on social media in a bid to proclaim his innocence.

Just because you're a yogi doesn't mean you're not a rapist ......

SOURCE