Kimora Lee Simmons responds to Russell Simmons’ claims of fraud

Russell Simmons accused Kimora and Tim Leissner of stealing his shares from a drink company they've all invested in

May 21, 2021

After recent claims previously covered by theGrio, Kimora Lee Simmons has officially responded to Russell Simmons‘ fraud claims.

As theGrio previously reported, Russell Simmons has claimed that his ex-wife Kimora Lee Simmons stole from him. Per theGrio‘s Keydra Manns, “Russell has accused his former wife of stealing his shares from an investment to pay her new husband’s legal fees and has filed a lawsuit against the mother of his two children and her husband.”

Now, a few days later, Kimora seems to be pushing back against Russell’s claims.

Conde Nast Media Group Presents "The Black Ball" - Inside — NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 09: (No Commercial Use or Advertising Use / Editorial Use ONLY) Model Kimora Lee Simmons and producer Russell Simmons pose for a photo at “The Black Ball” presented by Conde Nast Media Group and hosted by Alicia Keys and Iman to benefit “Keep A Child Alive” at Hammerstein Ballroom November 9, 2006 in New York City. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Getty Images)

Per a statement obtained by PEOPLE Magazine, Kimora and her new husband, Tim Leissner, are shocked by this news. The statement reads, “Kimora and her children are shocked by the extortive harassment coming from her ex-husband, Russell Simmons, who has decided to sue her for shares and dividends of Celsius stock in which Kimora and Tim Leissner invested millions of dollars…this is an ill-advised attempt by Russell to use the legal system to access funds he is in no way entitled to, and which his own legal team confirms Russell did not pay for.”

The statement continues, “Russell’s continued aggressive behavior not only blatantly distorts the facts, but is simply a desperate PR ploy ignoring the years of mental and emotional anguish, gaslighting, and ongoing harassment he has inflicted on Kimora.”

The statement also details plans to “confront” Russell’s claims head on, stating: “We will confront his baseless claims that he is warranted Celsius stock dividends despite his self-admitted zero contribution. This extortion attempt is especially egregious given that Russell remains contractually in debt to Kimora for millions of dollars in unpaid business loans.”

Kimora Lee Simmons 1 Year Anniversary — BEVERLY HILLS, CA – MAY 26: Kimora Lee Simmons attends the 1 Year Anniversary of Kimora Lee Simmons’ Beverly Hills boutique on May 26, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for Kimora Lee Simmons)

Per theGrio‘s previous report, Simmons’ claims against his ex-wife are linked to Celsius, a drink company they both invested in. Simmons claims Kimora used shares as “collateral for a bond connected to federal charges against Leissner.”

In 2018, Forbes reported that Leissner was charged with money laundering and pleaded guilty to criminal conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

Russell and Kimora split back in 2009, and since then Simmons has been under a sizable amount of scrutiny after the documentary On the Record premiered, which alleges Simmons sexually assaulted and harassed multiple women.

However, in an appearance on The Breakfast Club in June 2020, Simmons denied intentionally victimizing anyone.

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