Russell Simmons said there are two sides to every story and apparently, he’s ready to tell his.

The former Def Jam executive pushed back publicly after his ex, Kimora Lee Simmons, told People she “doesn’t ‘have a relationship really’ with her kids’ fathers.” In an interview with USA Today, Kimora said she’s not in contact with Russell or the other two fathers of her kids, Djimon Hounsou and Tim Leissner. “They're not really in my life," she said. "And we don't – yeah, no. And not because of me. Because of them."

Russell took that personally, and he wrote on Threads, “There are two sides to every story,” and accused Kimora of threatening to block his access to their children if he sued her. He added, “I gave u 50,000 a month for 20 years. I was ur best /only friend. I’m the godfather to your other 3 kids, until one day you stole my stock.”

Russell and Kimora share daughters Aoki and Ming Lee, and Kimora has three more sons (two from her two of her exes and one she adopted).

Russell continued, “I have been fighting for my kids love and my bread ever since,” and said Kimora told him he’d never speak to his kids again if he pursued legal action. Russell claimed that this is one of the reasons their family tensions have played out publicly. Kimora’s representative did not immediately respond to People’s request for comment.

However, Kimora did tell People in an exclusive that she is the children’s primary parent and credits her “village” for supporting her kids. “Usually I would say that I co-parent okay, but the kids are with me full-time,” she said, adding, “My life doesn’t ever revolve around a guy, ever,” and that she’s “thankful I’m able to be there for my family in ways that other people or parents are not.” 

She continued, "If I wasn't this person, I don't know if we would've made it or if we would be okay. It's been very important to me to be strong and self-reliant, and to constantly be growing." 

This exchange followed another public conflict between the former couple. Back in 2023, Lee used Instagram Stories to accuse Russell of making threats and said that he had been “abusive” to women in his life. She shared, "This man has been threatening my kids' lives. I'm hearing so much more now. We won't be bullied threatened or afraid. Leave my kids alone. This narrative of attacking the only caregiver, the only parent in the home with the kids, the mom, AND the kids for one's own shortcomings and embarrassments is dead. Dead. Dead."

These allegations sparked major public backlash, especially as Russell moved to Bali in 2018, in the midst of several sexual assault allegations. Bali has no extradition treaty with the U.S.

Russell and Lee were married in 1998, split in 2006, and finalized their divorce in 2009.