Russell Simmons accused by Kelly Cutrone of sexual misconduct

New York [USA], Dec 16 (ANI): Renowned television personality and best-selling author Kelly Cutrone has joined the list of women who have accused the hip-hop producer Russell Simmons of sexual misconduct.

According to Page Six, Cutrone shared that Simmons attempted to rape her in 1991 at his apartment.

Cutrone said, "He pushed me into his apartment and then he threw me down on the floor and literally tried to grab and take my clothes off of me. And I started kicking him really, really hard, screaming, telling him to get the fuck off of me."

Once Cutrone was able to fend off Simmons, she said, she left his apartment "really shaken up."

She further added, "I remember running out the door and getting a cab and all I remember was that I got in a cab and I remember a feeling - which was so crazy - of, 'Oh my god. Somebody just tried to rape me. What do I do?' And then the energy of going to the police and pressing charges against him was overwhelming to me."

The accusation comes as the New York Police Department are reportedly opening an investigation into Simmons after a number of other women have accused the Def Jam co-founder of sexual offences.

Simmons has denied them all, writing on Instagram, "I have never had a sexual encounter that was not consensual or lawful. Ever."

He followed up his statement with another post on Instagram that read "#NotMe" as a response to the #MeToo movement.

He wrote, "My intention is not to diminish the #MeToo movement in anyway, but instead hold my accusers accountable. It's just a statement about my innocence."

The first accusation against Simmons came from Keri Claussen Khalighi, who said that she "fought wildly" against Simmons as he forced her to have sex in his apartment when she was 17. (ANI)