Music mogul Russell Simmons has initiated a $20 million defamation lawsuit against HBO and the producers of the documentary On The Record. Filed on June 3 in New York State court, the suit also demands that Warner Bros. Discovery remove the film from all its platforms. Simmons claims the documentary unfairly omitted critical evidence that could have challenged the sexual assault allegations made against him.

According to Simmons’ legal team, more than 20 interviews with witnesses were overlooked, many of whom provided testimony that contradicts the narrative presented in the film. This evidence, they say, was shared with key executives, including former WarnerMedia CEO John Stankey and HBO and Max Content CEO Casey Bloys. However, the lawsuit alleges these figures ignored the information, allowing the filmmakers to produce a one-sided account.

Simmons’ attorneys accuse HBO and Warner Bros. Discovery of neglecting “due diligence” and failing to adhere to accepted journalistic standards, pointing out that nine polygraph tests that favored Simmons were also disregarded.

Critical Response and Context Around the Lawsuit

On The Record focuses on the stories of Simmons’ accusers, such as Drew Dixon, Sil Lai Abrams, and Jenny Lumet, who have publicly accused him of sexual assault allegations he continues to deny. The documentary premiered to strong critical acclaim, receiving multiple standing ovations at Sundance and holding a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

This lawsuit comes shortly after a federal judge dismissed a sexual assault case against Simmons on jurisdictional grounds, citing his status as a “stateless” American citizen due to his move to Indonesia. The dismissed case involved an anonymous woman who accused Simmons of assaulting her in his Manhattan apartment during the 1990s.

Simmons’ legal challenge raises questions about the responsibilities of documentary filmmakers to present all relevant evidence, especially in high-profile cases involving serious accusations.