Joe Budden has thrown his support behind Russell Simmons despite the mounting sexual assault allegations against the music mogul.
On the latest episode of his eponymous podcast, the polarizing personality said that nothing will make people stop loving Simmons because he’s impacted too many lives.
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“They love Russell Simmons,” he began. “I know y’all don’t want to say it, y’all don’t want to admit to it. I know people seen whatever doc they seen, people believe what they believe. There’s nothing y’all can do to make people stop loving Russell Simmons. Not a thing in the world. Not a thing in the universe is going to make people stop loving Russell Simmons for as many lives as he impacted.”
While noting that Simmons “has been nothing but kind, gentle, sweet, generous and amazing if you don’t have that horror story,” he also placed blame on the women accusing men of sexual assault.
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“As somebody that has spent a lot of time in the music business, nobody speaks to the side where the women were auctioning their pussy to move up in the ranks of the system. This existed way before I got to town. But that was happening too. But nobody says that part. Again, I’m not speaking about Russell Simmons, I’m just talking blanket, broad.”
You can listen to the full episode below:
Russell Simmons had been accused of sexual misconduct and assault many times in the past.
The most recent of these allegations arrived in mid-February, when a woman who served as an executive at Def Jam during the ’90s sued the mogul for sexual harassment and rape. Filed under Jane Doe in New York federal court, the lawsuit alleges false imprisonment, battery, emotional distress and a violation of the state’s gender-motivated violence law.
Usher also recently backed Simmons despite the allegations, attending a yoga retreat with him in Bali where he currently resides.
Fans were quick to call out Usher for his participation in the retreat, with one user commenting: “Usher being too close in proximity to Russell and Diddy at this time is not a good look. I can already see how this is going to go and whose next [palm on face emoji].”
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Another added: “Ummmm no! @usher we already suspect you down with diddy’s freaky ish. Now you out with @unclerush knowing the allegations against him of underage s.a. [palm on face emoji] ya keep putting it in our faces. It’s time we accept that everything is true.”
A third concluded: “Russell Simmons teaching yoga to a room full of women in Bali is still cringe to me idc if usher joins in!”
