In a recent conversation with Graham Bensinger, Russell Simmons discussed his legal dispute with his former partner, Kimora Lee.
He claimed that Kimora, the founder of Baby Phat, supposedly transferred his shares in Celsius energy drink to herself to assist in covering her current husband’s bail.
Tim Leissner, Kimora’s spouse, faced charges related to conspiracy for money laundering and violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act in 2018.
“I must’ve been a sh*t partner, from what I hear,” …“No. I was very generous and tried to be supportive. We were together 15 years, Kimora and I. And for eight years, we were married. And together for seven, before that,” he continued, “And then, I was best friends with Kimora throughout the entire raising of my children.”
Russell Simmons claims ex Kimora Lee Simmons stole $800M for new husband’s bail
via: @GrahamBensinger pic.twitter.com/vsefOK5l9Z
— HipHopDX (@HipHopDX) December 7, 2023
According to HNHH things were great between them for a while, however, the situation eventually took a turn for the worse.
According to Simmons, anybody else would have also sued had they experienced what he allegedly did.
“So, I tried to be flexible, and accommodating, and supportive,” Simmons then described. “And sometimes, things don’t work out. You’ve seen the lawsuit. I had no choice. I think Jesus Christ, Lord Buddha, anybody would have sued. […] She gave what is now, today, based on the value of the stock, $800 million to the government illegally, and now I’m fighting to get my half of it back.” Kimora’s legal team previously denied his allegations, clapping back with accusations of “harassment.”
“Kimora and her children are shocked by the extortive harassment coming from her ex-husband, Russell Simmons, who has decided to sue her for shares and dividends of Celsius stock in which Kimora and Tim Leissner invested millions of dollars,” their 2021 statement read.
“This is an ill-advised attempt by Russell to use the legal system to access funds he is in no way entitled to, and which his own legal team confirms Russell did not pay for.”