At least eight women have accused Russell Simmons of sexual assault and rape that the former Def Jam CEO has continued to deny. "These horrific accusations have shocked me to my core and all of my relations have been consensual," he said in a statement. “I have already apologized for the instances of thoughtlessness in my consensual relations. I have separated myself from my businesses and charities in order to not become a distraction."
A source now tells Page Six that the 60-year-old has fled the U.S. to attend a yoga retreat in the hills of Bali. Russell is still being investigated by the NYPD, but is using his free time to focus on "yoga and meditation, as well as his spiritual and emotional health." Russell is said to be staying at the Yoga Barn in Ubud, where the website describes it as "a gem in a sacred paradise.”
“He has also been seen wearing robes and walking the streets and markets of Ubud, the yoga town in the jungle," the source adds.
Not too long ago, Russell's former wife and mother to his two children, Kimora Lee Simmons, released a statement on the sexual misconduct claims saying for the 25 years she's known Russell, "these allegations against him are nothing like the person I have known in all that time."
"I have known him to be a caring and supportive father and someone who has worked tirelessly to uplift disenfranchised communities.” Read her full statement here.
