Russell Simmons takes lie detector test to disprove assault allegation

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In the wake of mounting sexual misconduct allegations against him, Russell Simmons took a polygraph.

Specifically, Simmons took the polygraph to disprove Keri Claussen Khalighi‘s allegations.

Khalighi alleged that Simmons forced her to perform oral sex on him when she was 17 back in 1991. What’s more, director Brett Ratner saw the whole thing and simply watched it go down, she claimed.

But according to an image obtained by TMZ, Simmons took the lie detector test to clear his name. And the results are encouraging for Simmons: he says they prove he didn’t force Khalighi to perform oral sex.

Simmons’ attorneys, Michael Sterling and E. Carlos Tanner, say that the results clear his name and that he will take the test for four other allegations made against him. Once he takes the test for all of those allegations, he will make the results public.

What’s more, the legal team called for Khalighi and other accusers to do the same and submit to a polygraph.

Simmons says #NotMe

Simmons, who has stepped down from his involvement in his companies, denied that did anything unlawful. In an Instagram post, he promised that he would “properly” defend himself and “prove without any doubt that I am innocent of all rape charges.”

At first, when the accusations of sexual misconduct came out against Simmons, he issued an apology. He said that he had been “insensitive” in some of his relationships. Now, however, his response seems to be shifting as the accusations heat up.

Additionally, Simmons’ Instagram post had a #NotMe image, a play on the #MeToo campaign in which millions of women have shared their stories of sexual harassment, assault, and abuse.

It probably wasn’t the best of ideas for Simmons to co-opt that movement to make his denial. And the Internet was sure to let him know exactly what they thought of his #NotMe post.