The Latest: Russell Simmons writes response to allegations
FILE – In this July 16, 2016 file photo, Def Jam Records mogul Russell Simmons speaks at the 2016 Art For Life Benefit in Water Mill, N.Y. Simmons, who has been accused by a model of sexual misconduct in 1991, has penned an essay in response, reiterating that the relationship was consensual and not violent. (Photo by Scott Roth/Invision/AP, File)
NEW YORK (AP) — The Latest on sexual harassment allegations against celebrities and media (all times local):
4:15 p.m.
Def Jam Records mogul Russell Simmons has penned an essay in response to an allegation from a model that he sexually assaulted her in 1991, reiterating that the relationship was consensual and not violent.
Model Keri Claussen Khalighi alleges Simmons coerced her to perform a sex act and later penetrated her without her consent in his New York apartment. Simmons has disputed her account.
Simmons expanded on his position in The Hollywood Reporter on Wednesday, saying his “loathing of any form of violence and abuse has been woven into all of my personal interactions.” He suggested that Khalighi’s accusation came from feeling shame.
Article continues after this advertisementSimmons writes that he “never committed any acts of aggression or violence in my life” or would “never knowingly cause fear or harm to anyone.”
Article continues after this advertisementHe added: “For any women from my past who I may have offended, I sincerely apologize. I am still evolving.”
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3:05 p.m.
Arizona State University is considering revoking an award given to Charlie Rose after several women who worked with him at CBS News and PBS alleged a pattern of sexual misconduct, including groping and walking naked in front of them.
The university’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication issued a statement on Monday describing the reports as “deeply troubling.” Rose was given the Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism in 2015.
School dean Christopher Callahan told The Arizona Republic in a story published Tuesday that a decision could be made by Friday when the endowment board of trustees plans to meet. The award has never been revoked.
CBS News and PBS both cut ties to Rose on Tuesday. Rose apologized for his actions in a statement late Monday.
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11:40 a.m.
British media say police are investigating a second allegation of sexual assault against actor Kevin Spacey.
London’s Metropolitan Police force says it has received a complaint “of sexual assaults against a man” in 2005.
The force didn’t identify Spacey as the alleged perpetrator. British police don’t name suspects until they are charged.
But it said the same man was accused Nov. 1 of another assault in 2008. The suspect in that case has been widely named in British media as Spacey.
The Oscar-winning actor led London’s Old Vic Theatre between 2004 and 2015.
The new allegation was made to police a day after the Old Vic said it had received 20 claims of inappropriate behavior by Spacey and had encouraged many complainants to go to the police.
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11:15 a.m.
Nick Carter says he’s “shocked and saddened” by accusations made by a singer who said he raped her about 15 years ago.
Melissa Schuman of the girl group Dream wrote in a blog post that she was “forced to engage in an act against my will.” She said the Backstreet Boy took her virginity.
But Carter says in a statement Wednesday that “Melissa never expressed to me while we were together or at any time since that anything we did was not consensual.”
He adds that he “was always respectful and supportive of Melissa both personally and professionally.”
Dream was signed to Sean “Diddy” Combs’ Bad Boy Records and produced the hit “He Loves U Not.”
Schuman and Carter recorded music together after she said he attacked her.
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10 a.m.
The morning show where Charlie Rose worked until being fired Tuesday is reporting that two women at CBS News claim that Rose grabbed them inappropriately, with one saying he also whispered a sexual innuendo.
The accusations came to light after CBS News President David Rhodes fired Rose on Tuesday for what he called “extremely disturbing and intolerable behavior” by the host toward women at his PBS talk show. PBS has also cut ties to Rose.
“CBS This Morning” said three women at CBS have reported misconduct by Rose. The network said one didn’t want details of her accusations made public, and all three requested anonymity. Rose has apologized for his actions.
Rose’s former co-host Gayle King said Wednesday that it’s important to keep reporting on the story.
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This item has been corrected in the second paragraph to show that Rose was fired.
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8 a.m.
Veteran news host Charlie Rose’s firing at CBS makes him the latest in a string of prominent journalists felled abruptly by accusations of sexual misconduct.
News organizations aren’t the only companies taking prompt measures against the accused. But they face particular pressure to act because of the risk of losing the audience’s trust as they cover the sex scandals coursing through politics, Hollywood and the media itself.
CBS News president David Rhodes said Tuesday that the network’s credibility in its reporting requires credibility in the way it deals with misbehavior inside the network. MKH
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