The Def Jam Recordings co-founder denies the claim made by Alexia Norton Jones, who said he raped her in New York after a date in 1990.

• Jul 11, 2018

AceShowbiz - Embattled music mogul Russell Simmons is denying a new sexual assault allegation made against him.

The Def Jam Recordings co-founder has found himself under attack in recent months after facing accusations of past inappropriate behaviour from a string of women. He has vehemently denied all claims, insisting all intimacy was consensual.

Now Alexia Norton Jones, granddaughter of book publisher W.W. Norton, has come forward with fresh allegations of rape against Simmons. She alleges Simmons forced himself upon her in his New York apartment in November, 1990 after a date.

"It was such a fast attack...," she tells Variety. "He pulled my dress up. I must have said no seven to 10 times."

After the alleged incident, she explains Simmons kept contacting her and would approach her when they attended the same public events.

"When I saw him out after that, I wouldn't even look him in the eyes," she adds. "I thought he was garbage. But he still had the compunction to call me. I became very depressed. It eroded my self-esteem. This is the worst message that it sends, that somebody could, in a different circumstance, like you but think you are worthless. And he can just take it from you. It's like the murder of the soul..."

Last year (17), Jones filed a police report against the 60-year-old, but her case was outside of the statute of limitations in New York for felonies. Jones insists she doesn't want any money from Russell, she just wanted her accusations to be heard.

However, Russell is fighting back, insisting he never sexually assaulted Alexia and that they dated after the alleged attack - a claim she denies.

"I'm deeply saddened by this story from Alexia," Simmons states. "At no time did she share these feelings about her first sexual encounter with me, which took place roughly 28 years ago. I have taken multiple lie detector tests that affirm I never sexually assaulted anyone."

"Alexia and I dated, were intimate and attended multiple events together after she alleges the incident occurred in 1990. I considered her a friend for all these years and continue to have a warm relationship with members of her family. I believe we last spoke in 2006 when she called to express her disappointment over the fact that I had not attended an event honouring her father."