Russell Simmons Disputes Kimora Lee’s Claims About Lack of Relationship With Children’s Fathers
Music mogul Russell Simmons has publicly and strongly rebutted claims made by his ex-wife, entrepreneur Kimora Lee Simmons, who recently stated that she has virtually no relationship with the fathers of her children and acts as the “primary parent.” Mr. Simmons took to social media to dispute her narrative, alleging that their current strained co-parenting dynamic is a result of a financial lawsuit between them.
Ms. Simmons, who shares daughters Ming Lee and Aoki Lee with Russell, recently told a media outlet that she generally says she co-parents “okay,” but noted, “I don’t really have a relationship with my kids’ fathers,” adding that her children are with her full-time. She shares one son, Kenzo, with actor Djimon Hounsou, and a second son, Wolfe, with convicted investment banker Tim Leissner.
Responding directly to her comments on social media, Russell Simmons disputed the characterization, writing that he was previously her “best / only friend” and even the “godfather to your 3 other kids,” referring to the children she shares with Hounsou and Leissner. He then alleged a breakdown in the relationship stemming from a legal dispute involving stock, writing, “I have been fighting for my kids love and my bread ever since.” He explicitly claimed that Ms. Simmons had threatened that if he pursued the financial lawsuit against her, he would “never speak to my kids ever again,” suggesting the current custody arrangements are being used as leverage in their legal and financial battles.
This public dispute rekindles a complex family feud that previously surfaced in 2023 when the couple’s daughters publicly sided with their mother, accusing their father of verbal harassment and mental instability. Mr. Simmons has consistently paid $50,000 a month in support for the last twenty years and continues to claim that he is actively seeking to maintain a strong relationship with his children despite the ongoing tension.
