Russell Simmons recently filed a lawsuit against his ex-wife Kimora Lee Simmons and her new husband Tim Leissner, alleging that Tim Leissner used his stock in the energy drink company Celsius to pay for Tim’s legal fees. Kimora’s legal team has now filed a response on her behalf to the complaint.
“Kimora and her children are shocked by the extortive threats coming from her ex-husband, Russell Simmons, who has chosen to sue her for shares and dividends of Celsius stock in which Kimora and Tim Leissner invested millions of dollars,” Kimora’s legal team said in a statement on Thursday. Russell’s decision to use the legal system to gain access to funds he is not entitled to, and which his own legal staff admits he did not pay for, is ill-advised.
Russell’s continued violent conduct not only grossly distorts the truth, but it’s also a desperate public relations tactic that ignores Kimora’s years of mental and emotional anguish, gas lighting, and ongoing harassment. Russell will be held accountable for his abuse, and we will refute his false claims that he is entitled to Celsius stock dividends despite his self-admitted zero contribution. Given that Russell is still owed millions of dollars in unpaid business loans by Kimora, this blackmail attempt is particularly egregious. Our team is working hard to put an end to his abuse, which continues despite Russell’s departure from the country – he will be held accountable in a US court.”
Russell claims in documents obtained by The Blast that Kimora and Tim obtained his shares without his knowledge or consent and used them to fund Tim’s bail after he was charged with conspiracy to launder money and violating international anti-bribery laws. He later admitted to the allegations leveled against him. The site also noted that Russell reportedly sent a letter to Kimora encouraging her to do what was right prior to filing his lawsuit.Russell has yet to publicly speak out about the lawsuit.
