Russell Simmons Sues HBO Max for $20 Million Over 'On the Record' Documentary

Russell Simmons' Lawsuit Against HBO Max

• 💰 Russell Simmons is suing HBO Max for $20 million over the 2020 documentary "On the Record."
• ⚖️ The lawsuit alleges defamation, emotional distress, and invasion of privacy against HBO, Warner Bros. Discovery, and the documentary's producers.

Claims of Suppressed Evidence

• 📝 Simmons claims the documentary producers disregarded or suppressed testimony from over 20 witnesses who contradicted sexual assault allegations.
• 🧠 He states that high-level WarnerMedia executives, including CEO John Stankey, were made aware of this evidence.
• 🗣️ Civil rights leaders and members of Congress reportedly urged HBO to reconsider the film's content.
• 💡 Oprah Winfrey also departed the project, publicly noting inconsistencies in the accusations.

Ignored Polygraph Results

• 🕵️ Simmons asserts that filmmakers ignored nine consecutive credible and favorable CIA-grade polygraph results that supported his innocence.
• 🌍 He has been living in Bali since leaving the U.S. in 2018, having left in 2018.

Media's Role and Due Diligence

• 📺 The speaker suggests a pattern where media companies destroy a person's character before legal proceedings, citing examples like R. Kelly and Michael Jackson.
• 🚩 It is argued that HBO Max failed to perform due diligence despite numerous "red flags" regarding the documentary's claims.
• ✅ The speaker believes Simmons deserves to sue if the allegations are incorrect and could potentially jeopardize his freedom or lead to arrest if he returned to the U.S.