The week in sexual assault news: Russell Simmons and Tavis Smiley defend themselves
Meanwhile, the director of ‘Super Size Me’ confesses his sexual misdeeds
This week, accused men like Tavis Smiley and Russell Simmons are denying any wrongdoing on their part. Here is a roundup of those stories, plus others.
‘Unfounded accusations’
Rep. Dan Johnson (R-Ky.) killed himself on Wednesday afternoon. Two days before, his daughter’s friend accused him of sexually assaulting her during a sleepover in 2013. She was 17 at the time. The lawmaker responded to the claim by saying “these are unfounded accusations, totally.” Outside of Johnson’s Heart of Fire Church, a sign read: “Satan accuses. God says youre not guilty.”
New allegations
“It is clear that this has gone too far,” said PBS’s Tavis Smiley, after being accused by multiple women of sexual misconduct. “And I for one intend to fight back. PBS overreacted and they launched a sloppy investigation. PBS has suspended the late-night talk show host. Allegedly, Smiley had engaged in sexual relationships with his employees, Variety reported.
A former wardrobe stylist accused NFL commentators Marshall Faulk, Ike Taylor and Heath Evans of sexual harassment. The woman filed a wrongful-termination lawsuit, and also accused other former NFL Network employees and on-air personalities of inappropriate conduct.
Since November, 11 different women have come forth with allegations against hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons. Four say he raped them. Others said he exposed himself to them. The New York Police Department is investigating Simmons, who denies wrongdoing. “I vehemently deny all these allegations. These horrific accusations have shocked me to my core and all of my relations have been consensual.”
Previous allegations
In light of the #MeToo movement, Joe Biden has acknowledged that he owes Anita Hill an apology. “I wish I had been able to do more for Anita Hill,” he said. Biden was one of the all-white group of lawmakers who grilled Hill about her credibility, when she alleged that Clarence Thomas had made unwanted sexual advances toward her. Biden voted against Thomas’s confirmation and said he believed Hill, but Hill said the former vice president was no innocent bystander.
Related stories
“Super Size Me” director Morgan Spurlock took to Twitter on Wednesday to post a note about his own sexual misdeeds. It’s titled “I am Part of the Problem.” He talked about his infidelities, a sexual encounter the girl later referred to as “rape” and a sexual harassment allegation from a former assistant. “As I sit around watching hero after hero, man after man, fall at the realization of their past indiscretions, I don’t sit by and wonder ‘who will be next?’ ” he began. “I wonder, ‘when will they come for me?’” On Thursday, Spurlock resigned from Warrior Poets, the production company he founded in New York City.
Matt Damon’s discussion about how not all sexual assault is equal on “Popcorn With Peter Travers” has become a trending Twitter moment. On Tuesday, the Hollywood actor said, “We live in this culture of outrage and injury, and, you know, that we’re going to have to correct enough to kind of go, ‘Wait a minute. None of us came here perfect.’” Some commentators have fallen on Damon’s side, while others are keen to correct him.
After 140 women accused USA Gymnastics’s former team physician Larry Nassar of abusing them, two major corporations have not renewed their sponsorships with the gymnastics governing body. “We will evaluate whether to renew our partnership next spring, in light of our longer term priorities and continued actions on their part,” a P&G representative told The Post. Kellogg’s has also said it hasn’t renewed its sponsorship.
Minnesota’s lieutenant governor Tina Smith will be replacing Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) after he announced his resignation following sexual misconduct allegations. Smith will become the 22nd woman to serve in the Senate, and she’s expecting to take office in early January.
