Aoki Lee Simmons Claps Back At 'Toxic Men' Defending Russell Simmons
By Melanie VanDerveer on June 23, 2023 at 8:00 PM EDT
Aoki Lee Simmons is speaking up and clapping back.
After sharing her family's frustrating situation with her father, music mogul Russell Simmons, some have come to his defense, even though she has receipts. Aoki has a message to all the "toxic men" who are defending his behavior to spread "absolute hate for women of color" in the comment section.
Aoki Lee Simmons Has A Message For The Men Leaving "Sexist, Racist, Honestly Foul Comments"
Earlier in the week, Aoki took to Instagram to share troublesome information on what's been going on behind the scenes with Russell and the family.
"My father is not well, for years, he needs help and won’t accept that refuses to acknowledge he is not himself. He has threatened and bullied my sister, my grandma, he has harassed my grandma in the middle of the night in poor health, send a man to my sister's apartment at 2am to scare her,” the caption of an emotional video that has since been taken down began.
"He lashes out at ANYONE who does not say ‘oh Russell everything is fine’. Well it’s not fine. If ‘I never get a fashion job again’ like he threatens, I’ll be a lawyer I guess and work in criminal Justice. Sure I love my job but if he takes it away from me I won’t die. You don’t threaten my sister and grandma and mother and say ‘who’s gonna believe you I’m Russell Simmons nobody thinks I’m crazy’ well he is."
While the two posts Aoki shared that gives information about the family drama has since been removed, she took to Instagram Stories to share a message to the "toxic men" who are trying to defend her father's actions, and who have left hateful sexist comments.
"Until a short time ago, this is the man who told me 'always defend and look after your mother girls' and 'never let a man curse at you' 'you call Daddy if a man ever tries to yell you or scare you that's never ok! Real men don't shout at women and girls,'" her story reads.
"So to all the toxic men in my comments using 'I'm defending him' to be foul, and talk about all the grievances you have with women, you can save it. It's pathetic. He would agree I know that for sure."
In another Story slide, the model and Harvard graduate addresses the "foul comments and messages" she's been getting.
"I wonder how your mothers, sisters, daughters, nieces, girlfriends, wives would feel seeing some of the sexist, racist, honestly foul comments and messages some of you 'men' are leaving me. The misogynistic stereotypes and names, the absolute hate for women of color a lot of your comments show, just waiting to take your anger at how you feel you've been 'treated' by women. All of us 'b*tches are like this' and 'this is the problem with you girls/women/black women/bitter women/hoes/skanks today,'" her Story reads.
"No how about all YOU B*tches are like this. I only see one bitter mess in a DM between a 40+ year old male stranger yelling at me about 'all the bitter black women' I represent, and it's not the 20 year old on the receiving end."
A final Story slide ends the conversation by explaining "I'm just following instructions here ppl."
Russell Simmons Also Took To Instagram To Seemingly Apologize
Russell posted a photo of his daughters, Aoki, 20, and Ming Lee, 23, on Instagram with a caption that suggests to "smile and breathe."
"God is testing you a little bit, it’s ok, be strong. . . they are called growing pains . . . as you know, we grow through adversity and struggle . . . you read my books and heard me preach your whole childhood . . . reach back to old lessons and remember to remember 'smile and breathe' ❤️ 'smile and breathe' . . . you are the watchers of this world . . . so let go . . . be at ease . . . God is driving and he is working on you ❤️," Russell's caption began.
"DEEPLY sorry for being frustrated and yelling . . .but know this . . . there are no conditions . . . for sure I love you guys more than I love myself."
View this post on Instagram
Many people dropped into the comment section to leave their thoughts, and at a quick scroll, it appeared that most people sided with Aoki.
"U can clearly see that his comment is a form of abuse/manipulation/narcissistic behavior. He’s having a mental breakdown from not being able to have his way. And he’s taking it out on his kids and the people that he once loved around him. And now that the whole world sees it, he now wants to take back those rocks that he’s thrown," one person wrote in the comments.
Another added, "No accountability in this post."