Russell Simmons has entered the chat with a very precise age-gap correction to Kimora Lee’s account of their relationship’s presumably problematic beginnings. While the model said Simmons pursued her when she was just 16, he’s pushing back on that timeline, alleging that she was actually 17 years and nine months old.
As previously reported, Kimora recalled meeting Simmons when she was 16 years old and described how her friend and fellow supermodel Tyra Banks tried to keep her away from him after noticing his interest.
Now, Simmons is disputing Kimora’s account of her age.
According to Baller Alert, a spokesperson for Simmons says the pair first met at a Mary McFadden fashion show in February 1993. The statement specifically points to the date because Kimora was born May 4, 1975, which would have made her 17 years and 9 months old, according to his representative.
Yes, they came with the months. Not tone Def at all.
The spokesperson also pointed to previous accounts of the meeting, including a 2004 profile in The Observer that reportedly described Kimora as 17 when Simmons first noticed her on the runway. The rep also referenced a Vanity Fair interview in which Kimora reportedly said, “We didn’t do anything until I was 18.”
However, Kimora’s recollection is different.
In the documentary and an interview with PEOPLE, she said she was 16 when she met Simmons, who was approximately 18 years older than her. She recalled him sitting in the front row at her fashion shows, cheering loudly, coming backstage, and sending large flower arrangements.
That is where Tyra allegedly stepped in.
Kimora said Banks once kept her at her apartment for an entire weekend because she did not want Kimora going home and returning Simmons’ calls. Kimora said she initially interpreted the behavior as jealousy, but now believes Banks was trying to protect her.
Kimora eventually married Simmons in 1998. They welcomed daughters Ming and Aoki before separating in 2006 and finalizing their divorce in 2009.
Her documentary also details allegations of verbal, emotional and financial abuse during the marriage. Simmons’ latest statement to Baller Alert does not address those allegations.
Instead, his representative emphasized that Simmons and Kimora remained close friends for years after their divorce and said he continues to have love and respect for her.
So now there are two different accounts of one very important detail: Was Kimora 16 or 17 years and 9 months when Russell Simmons first pursued her?
The fact that they’re really counting it down to the months tells us everything we need to know.
