Hip hop mogul Russell Simmons has launched a $20 million defamation lawsuit against HBO, Warner Bros. Discovery, and the creators of the 2020 documentary On The Record. The lawsuit alleges the film falsely portrayed him as a sexual predator while excluding evidence that could have supported his defense according to The Guardian.

The documentary, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and later debuted on HBO Max, centers on allegations from several women, including music executive Drew Dixon, who claim Simmons sexually assaulted them in the 1980s and 1990s.

Simmons asserts that the filmmakers, Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering, deliberately omitted exculpatory evidence, including statements from over 20 witnesses and nine polygraph test results that allegedly support his innocence. According to legal documents, Simmons and his legal team presented this material to both HBO and Warner Bros. executives—but say it was ignored and suppressed.

“This film presented a one-sided narrative that was more concerned with sensationalism than truth,” Simmons claims in the suit.

He is demanding not only $20 million in damages, but also that HBO removes the documentary from its platforms and halts further international distribution.

Meanwhile, HBO and the documentary’s creators maintain that On The Record is a journalistically sound and ethically produced film. The network has vowed to defend its rights to share the documentary under the protection of press freedom.

This lawsuit comes amid continued legal troubles for Simmons, who has faced multiple allegations in recent years. While he has denied all claims of sexual misconduct, his public image has been significantly impacted.

The case now poses broader questions about the role of media in the #MeToo era, the responsibility of networks, and the legal rights of individuals accused in documentaries.

Stay tuned to WorldWide Entertainment TV for ongoing updates on this developing story.