Music mogul and living legend Russell Simmons is under intense scrutiny and investigation by the New York Police Department for alleged sexual misconduct and rape charges.
After a brief period of clapping back against his accusers, denying the charges of rape and sexual deviancy, Simmons stepped down from his businesses and charities in December. Now Simmons has left his family, his hometown and … the U.S.
Reportedly, a dozen women have given the media and police detailed accounts of Simmons being sexually inappropriate or outright raping them, with the time frame ranging from the late ’80s to relatively recently.
The founder of Def Jam, “Def Comedy Jam,” Phat Farm and many other ventures eventually stepped down from his leading roles at all his businesses. With nothing but free time on his hands as authorities feverishly investigate the women’s accounts, Simmons decided to leave the United States altogether.
New York Post’s Page Six found out Simmons has been hiding out and getting “re-centered” at a pricey yoga retreat in Bali called The Yoga Barn. A source in the know reports that: “Russell is focusing on yoga and meditation, as well as his spiritual and emotional health. He has also been seen wearing robes and walking the streets and markets of Ubud, the yoga town in the jungle.”
In addition, he’s working on a book. But it’s not about “his side” of the rape stories or addressing any of the allegations against him at all — just a guidebook of sorts on yoga and meditation.
As for the Yoga Barn facility, they recently took a strong stance on their website in support of victims speaking their truths regarding experiences with sexual harassment and misconduct, and they have a strict zero-tolerance policy such behavior at their facility.
Russell is currently under investigation by the NYPD for several of the allegations, so it’s unclear how long he will be able to stay away from his old stomping grounds.
