The music executive, who has been staying on the Indonesian island for more than five years, speaks up after fans expressed their disappointment when Taraji P. Henson paid a visit to him earlier this month.
- August 21, 2024
AceShowbiz - Russell Simmons wants people to stop "attacking" his celebrity friends who visit him in Bali. The music executive, who has been staying on the Indonesian island for more than five years, made the plea when hopping on Instagram Live.
"Black people, did you forget that I got 10,000 black men out of jail? ... And that I registered more of you to vote than probably anybody you know?" the 66-year-old said. "And I worked for Black Lives Matter and every movement that's helped our people - all the women's rights and even gay rights movements that I did so much work for."
"To let them demonize me in such a way that my friends cannot visit me without you attacking them - but yet you stand next to Donald Trump, knock it off," the Def Jam Recordings co-founder added. He also called the idea of him hiding in Bali "stupid."
Noting that he will be in New York next week, Russell declared, "I call the paparazzi on myself every time I'm there. I have an office." He continued, "I'm there all the time. I work out of New York sometimes, but I live here. I live here to heal people … and to give them spiritual and mental rejuvenation."
"So just attacking people who visit me - you have no idea who all have been here - are you under some kind of tricknology? Are you lost?" he argued. "I'm your friend, black people, and I've been my whole life a supporter of all the initiatives that lift you up."
Russell went on to claim that he has never spoken to authorities about any crimes of which he has been accused. "From what I can tell, Joe Biden, Bill Clinton, President Trump, all have more credible claims against them than I do if you ask Oprah [Winfrey]," he stated.
"I've never been charged with - who took nine lie detector tests? … Did Bill Clinton do that? Did Joe Biden do that? Did President Trump do that? Knock it off," he stressed. "I love you. I just don't want my friends attacked … just leave my friends alone. Don't attack them for visiting me. Attack friends for visiting Trump; he's been convicted."
More than a week prior, fans expressed their disappointment after Russell shared a picture of him and Taraji P. Henson lounging on a couch together while she was in Bali. Meanwhile, earlier this year, Usher also paid a visit to Russell while he was there.
