Russell Simmons Wants $100 Million For Defamation And Apology From HBO

Russell Simmons wants $100 million and an apology from HBO. Simmons, who previously alleged defamation in a 2025 lawsuit against HBO, asserted that he’s owed “millions of dollars.” While Simmons didn’t specify why, exactly, he believes he’s owed this figure, he did point to his prior lawsuit against the network, which in 2020 debuted the On the Record documentary focused on sexual assault allegations against the Def Jam co-founder. “HBO you owe me 100s of millions of dollars,” Simmons wrote this week, “I need my bread, for all my charities and family members, specifically my children. You know what you did was horrific and malicious. You can’t hide. Ask Oprah or anyone [who’s] ever looked at the evidence (available in suit). You intentionally suppressed all of it. I want apology and 100 million. … Time to pay.” HBO Max first confirmed its acquisition of On the Record in March 2020, with the announcement coming after the Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering-helmed film’s premiere at that year’s Sundance Film Festival in Utah. “Kirby and I are so proud to be teaming with HBO Max to give this film the outstanding platform it deserves and can’t wait for the public to see and hear the voices of these courageous women,” Ziering said at the time. In response to Simmons’ legal action last year, a spokesperson for HBO’s parent company expressed solidarity with the team behind the film. “We dispute Mr. Simmons’ allegations, stand by the filmmakers and their process, and will vigorously defend ourselves against these unfounded allegations,” the rep said.

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