Since the images of Aoki Lee Simmons and her much older boyfriend, Vittorio Assaf have hit the internet, many people have wondered how her father, embattled media mogul Russell Simmons, feels about the new couple.
Simmons famously has an almost 18-year age difference between he and Aoki’s mom, model and businesswoman Kimora Lee Simmons.
The 66-year-old Def Jam Records co-founder took to Instagram to share a daddy-daughter throwback photo in support of his youngest daughter with a caption reading, “Throw back from last fathers day NYC. Bode bikram yoga express class … vegan lunch cryotherapy vitamin drip … all around amazing day [heart emoji] @aokileesimmons love you always.”
“TMZ” spoke with Simmons soon after his heartfelt social media message and told the outlet that he was told about the photos before they went public and that he won’t fight Aoki on “her choices,” but will support her.
“I’m not gonna kick and scream about her choices,” Simmons said. “All I can do is offer my advice and unconditional love.”
Images and video of the pair first hit the web on Saturday, April 6 and show the 21-year-old Harvard graduate kissing and looking cozy with Assaf, an Italian restaurateur, while vacationing in St. Barts.
Assaf, 65, is the founder of the Serafina Restaurant Group with an estimated net worth of more than $250 million.
