“Insecure” Actress Comes Forward w/Offensive Sexual Harassment Claim Against Russell
The claims against Russell Simmons are continuing to pile up. Now, there’s yet another woman coming forward with her uncomfortable encounter with the former Def Jam CEO. Insecure actress Amanda Seales is the latest to out Russell Simmons. On Friday, December 1, she took to Instagram to recall a time when she discussed an awkward encounter with an unnamed executive. Now, she’s admitting that man was actually Russell.
Have We Ever?:
In the Instagram video, Amanda played back a clip from a previous Instagram video where she recalled a discussion in the executive’s office. “Ya’ll have descended into my mentions asking me what are my thoughts on Russell Simmons. Remember when I said this” (plays clip from a past Instagram post) While in a very important man’s office while discussing working together, he said ‘have we ever fuc*ed?’ no….’oh right because I would have remembered that right?’ Seales continues, “So that very important man’s office who said that to me…That was Russell Simmons.”
Check out her latest video:
Why The Wait?:
Sadly, whenever victims come forward with allegations of sexual misconduct years later, they are often asked why they waited so long. In the caption for the video, Amanda provided a detailed explanation to answer that question. She spoke on behalf of all the women raised in a sexist environment.
PSA: For anyone who says, “Why’d they wait so long?” You wait because as a woman raised in a patriarchal, “Bros before Hoes”, sexist, “but what were you wearing” society you understand power dynamics and that even when there are witnesses to any level of sexual harassment/assault it will always be you who is questioned for incurring the offense. You wait because you know your vision is bigger than their indiscretion and refuse to let it derail you from your goals. You wait because you don’t even want to acknowledge the fuckery for longer than you have to when you know the odds are there will be no consequences, you’ll be dismissed, or worse defiled yet again and would rather get on with the positive things in your life.”
The caption continued, “You wait because, especially when it’s a black man of prestige, you are conditioned to not speak defamatory truths for fear it will undermine their contributions to the community. Lastly, you wait, because you don’t even wanna believe it ya damn self. No matter how seemingly benign or intrusive, no one wants to endure this, particularly in professional settings. Yet, so many of us have so many of these stories and we come to operate like a clandestine anti-#creeplifes coalition of alerting others to, “watch out for so and so”. Let that be no more. It is not okay. It is not the culture. It is not your fault. Expose them. #igstorygems”
Serious Side Eye:
With all of the accusations piling up, fans everywhere are giving Russell the side eye. Even HBO is looking at Russell under-eyed. The latest follows the network’s decision to cut ties with him. Since the first alleged victim came forward with allegations against him and Brett Ratner, he’s adamantly denied all claims and insists he stands with victims of sexual misconduct. But with so many women coming forward, he has people wondering if his statement was just a form of damage control. But whatever the case, it doesn’t look like Russell will be getting out of this situation without a legal battle.
