Warner Bros. Discovery was chased by Russell Simmons, who alleges that the filmmakers behind At the same time as The diffammer by closing his eyes on evidence contesting the accusations that he sexually assaulted women on his orbit.
In a legal action filed Tuesday before the New York State Court, Simmons brings claims for defamation, invasion of privacy and false advertisements, among others. He is looking for $ 20 million and a court order which would oblige WBD to withdraw the title of his platforms.
At the same time as Tells the stories of the accusers of Simmons – including the former leader of Def Jam Drew Dixon, the activist for awareness of domestic violence Sil Lai Abrams and the scriptwriter Jenny Lumet – while they decide to make public with allegations of sexual assault. It was produced by the nominated directors at the Oscars Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering via their Jane Doe Films production banner, which are all appointed in the complaint, with Dan Cogan for impact partners.
A distribution agreement with Apple TV + has been cut when Oprah Winfrey publicly announced that she was withdrawing as an executive producer, citing creative differences with the filmmakers. He was then taken over by HBO Max as the first acquisition of the festival.
In Tuesday’s complaint, Simmons alleges that filmmakers intentionally ignored the information, including interviews with more than 20 witnesses through the media and politics, which challenged their story that the musical magnate attacked and harassed various women. The evidence was presented to John Stankey, then CEO of Warner Media, and Casey Bloys, Chairman and CEO of HBO and Max Content, who both ignored the equipment, according to the trial.
WBD and documentary producers have also ignored nine polygraph tests, as well as other information which “would have been discovered with reasonable diligence and adhesion to accepted journalistic standards”, writes Imran Ansari, a Simmons lawyer, in the complaint.
Also in question: Apple withdrawing from the distribution of the documentary and certain media, including CNN, the New York Post and MSNBC, refusing to cover the allegedly defamatory content.
The majority of the title follows Dixon, who filed a defamation complaint against Simmons last year for pretending to undermine his accusations of sexual assault against him. The former leader of Def Jam Recording allegedly alleged that she was raped by the Music Magnat in 1995.
The complaint was filed on the heels of another pursuit against Simmons for sexual assault and assault and injuries of an ex-executive of the label he co-founded, which continued as Jane Doe.
During the Singence of the disc first, the public gave the title several standing ovations. With its festival reviews, At the same time as is currently 100% on rotten tomatoes, while The Hollywood Reporter‘S Beandrea July called the film “A great feat of complexity which is both contained and expansive”.
Ansari, Simmons lawyers, is associated with Aidala, Bertuna & Kamins. Arthur Aidala, another partner of the New York law firm, is Harvey Weinstein’s principal lawyer during his sexual assault in New York.
