Billionaire media mogul Oprah Winfrey has found herself embroiled in the high-profile r*pe case against hip-hop icon Russell Simmons.
According to Page Six, Winfrey, 71, has been subpoenaed by Drew Dixon, one of Simmons’ alleged victims, as part of Dixon’s ongoing defamation lawsuit against the 67-year-old rapper.
Dixon’s lawsuit stems from comments made by Simmons during a 2023 interview where he discussed her allegations and mentioned Winfrey’s decision to step back from executive producing a 2020 documentary concerning the matter. Simmons asserted that Winfrey withdrew after discerning “inconsistencies” in Dixon’s and other accusers’ testimonies, even claiming that she possessed recordings that highlighted these inconsistencies.
Winfrey has been instructed to produce documents, recordings, and other related materials by March 18, 2025. Additionally, Dixon’s legal team has demanded that Winfrey appear for a deposition, which may be videotaped.
The subpoena outlines a request for “books, records, papers, data, documents, evidence, writings, and all other tangible things” linked to the case.
It is currently unclear whether Winfrey complied with the subpoena’s demands by the deadline or if her legal team contested the request. The specific assets requested in the subpoena remain undisclosed.
Dixon initiated her defamation lawsuit in 2024 after Simmons made comments regarding her r*pe allegations in a sit-down interview with Graham Bensinger. During the interview, he appeared to imply that Dixon was motivated by a desire for fame and notoriety for accusing him of raping her in 1995 at his apartment. He insisted that all his relationships had been consensual and denied ever being forceful.
Simmons also claimed that Winfrey’s departure from the project, titled On The Record, was due to her finding contradictions in the stories of Dixon and other women. He further stated that Winfrey had recorded interviews with approximately 20 witnesses related to the documentary.
He began his discussion with Bensinger by stating that he did not watch On The Record because he believed it misrepresented the truth, and he felt Winfrey agreed that the stories did not align.
In January 2020, Winfrey announced her decision to step down as executive producer of the documentary. During an appearance on CBS This Morning, she clarified that her withdrawal was “not a victory” for Simmons, asserting, “I unequivocally say that I did not pull out because of Russell. This is not a victory lap for him. I cannot be silenced by Russell Simmons after all I’ve been through.”
