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2026-09-24T14:09:11Z

Created page with "{{short description|'''US hip-hop entrepreneur and former chairman of the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding'''}} {{Infobox person | name = Russell Simmons | birth_n..."

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{{short description|'''US hip-hop entrepreneur and former chairman of the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding'''}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Russell Simmons
| birth_name = Russell Wendell Simmons
| birth_date = 4 October 1957
| birth_place = Queens, New York, United States
| nationality = United States
| occupation = Entrepreneur; record executive; former chairman, [[Foundation for Ethnic Understanding]]
| known_for = Co-founder of [[Def Jam Recordings]]; chairman of the [[Foundation for Ethnic Understanding]] (from 2002)
| spouse = [[Kimora Lee Simmons]] (m. 1998–2009)
| children = [[Ming Lee Simmons]]; [[Aoki Lee Simmons]]
| relatives = [[Joseph Simmons]] (brother); [[Daniel Simmons Jr.]] (brother)
| website = http://www.russellsimmons.com
}}

'''Russell Wendell Simmons''' (born 4 October 1957) is a US entrepreneur and record executive who co-founded [[Def Jam Recordings]] and later chaired the New York interfaith charity the [[Foundation for Ethnic Understanding]] ([[FFEU]]).<ref name="BlackPast">BlackPast, [https://blackpast.org/african-american-history/simmons-russell-1957-0/ Russell Simmons (1957– )] ''BlackPast.org'', 21 April 2011.</ref><ref name="InsidePhilSimmons">Inside Philanthropy, [https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant/major-donors/russell-simmons-html Russell Simmons] ''Inside Philanthropy'', 26 July 2021.</ref> He joined the [[Foundation for Ethnic Understanding]] after being honoured by Rabbi [[Marc Schneier]]'s synagogue in the 1990s, served first as secretary and from 2002 as chairman, and became the public face of its Black–Jewish and later Muslim–Jewish programmes.<ref name="Variety2016">Variety, [https://variety.com/2016/music/spotlight/russell-simmons-foundation-for-ethnic-understanding-1201829643/ Russell Simmons and Rabbi Team to Reconcile Communities] ''Variety'', 4 August 2016.</ref><ref name="NewVoices2005">Michael Dubitzky, [https://newvoices.org/2005/01/27/0067-3/ Calculating the Politicians] ''New Voices'', 27 January 2005.</ref> Form 990 filings list him as chairman through at least 2017; he is absent from the organisation's 2025 GuideStar board extract.<ref name="ProPublica">ProPublica, [https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/133527874 Foundation For Ethnic Understanding] ''Nonprofit Explorer'', accessed 24 September 2026.</ref><ref name="GuideStar">GuideStar, [https://www.guidestar.org/profile/13-3527874 Foundation for Ethnic Understanding] ''GuideStar'', board as of 18 September 2025.</ref>

==Early life and business==

[[Russell Simmons]] was born on 4 October 1957 in Queens, New York, the second of three sons of public-school administrator [[Daniel Simmons Sr.]] and parks administrator [[Evelyn Simmons]]. He grew up in Hollis, Queens. His younger brother [[Joseph Simmons]] became "Run" of [[Run-DMC]]; his elder brother [[Daniel Simmons Jr.]] is a painter who later worked on ''Def Poetry Jam''.<ref name="BlackPast" /><ref name="QNS2011">QNS, [https://qns.com/2011/10/hollis-russell-simmons-left-impression-on-more-than-music/ Hollis’ Russell Simmons left impression on more than music] ''QNS'', 13 October 2011.</ref>

He promoted early hip-hop acts and managed [[Run-DMC]], then co-founded [[Def Jam Recordings]] with [[Rick Rubin]] in 1984. The label released work by [[LL Cool J]], the [[Beastie Boys]], [[Public Enemy]], [[Jay-Z]] and others. He sold his stake to [[Universal Music Group]] in the late 1990s (reported figures range from about US$100 million to US$120 million).<ref name="BlackPast" /><ref name="QNS2011" /><ref name="Bio2014">Biography.com, [https://www.biography.com/business-leaders/russell-simmons Russell Simmons] ''Biography'', 2 April 2014.</ref> Through [[Rush Communications]] he developed [[Phat Farm]], [[Def Comedy Jam]], [[Def Poetry Jam]] and related media. In 1995 he and his brothers founded the [[Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation]].<ref name="InsidePhilSimmons" /><ref name="BlackPast" /> He married model [[Kimora Lee Simmons]] in 1998; they divorced in 2009 and have two daughters.<ref name="QNS2011" />

==[[Foundation for Ethnic Understanding]]==

===Path to the chair===

[[Variety]] reported that after [[Marc Schneier]]'s synagogue honoured him in the 1990s, [[Russell Simmons]] offered to become secretary of the [[Foundation for Ethnic Understanding]], then chairman.<ref name="Variety2016" /> ''New Voices'' in 2005 described him as chairman working "side-by-side" with [[Marc Schneier]], with [[Rush Communications]] named as his company.<ref name="NewVoices2005" /> [[Inside Philanthropy]] dates the chairmanship to 2002.<ref name="InsidePhilSimmons" /> He was still calling himself chairman on X in July 2017: "I am the Chairman of the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding (@FFEUnyc) and my job for the past 20 years or so is to point out the..."<ref name="UncleRush2017">[[Russell Simmons]], [https://x.com/UncleRUSH/status/882338129193177093 I am the Chairman of the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding] ''X'', 4 July 2017.</ref>

===Black–Jewish work and the Farrakhan track===

In June 2001 ''Newsweek'' reported that [[Russell Simmons]] hosted a closed meeting at his penthouse near the World Trade Center between [[Marc Schneier]] and [[Nation of Islam]] leader [[Louis Farrakhan]], with [[Cornel West]] and [[Martin Luther King III]] also present. The magazine framed it as an attempt to repair [[Louis Farrakhan]]'s standing with American Jews.<ref name="Newsweek2001">Newsweek, [https://www.newsweek.com/top-secret-session-153367 Top-Secret Session] ''Newsweek'', 12 June 2001.</ref> [[Variety]] later quoted [[Russell Simmons]] saying [[Marc Schneier]] was the only Jewish leader who showed up to a post–[[Million Man March]] meeting he had sought with [[Elie Wiesel]], [[Israel Singer]] and others, and that the next day [[Louis Farrakhan]] "quoted the rabbi 20 times" at a hip-hop summit.<ref name="Variety2016" />

In March 2007 the ''New York Daily News'' reported that [[Abraham Foxman]] of the [[Anti-Defamation League]] called [[Russell Simmons]] a "hypocrite" after he co-chaired a Detroit event for [[Louis Farrakhan]] at which the minister urged the audience to read texts the [[ADL]] called antisemitic. The paper noted [[Russell Simmons]]'s "I Am a Jew"–style anti-antisemitism commercials with [[Jay-Z]] and his role at the [[Foundation for Ethnic Understanding]]. [[Russell Simmons]] said he was "just trying to get an open dialogue".<ref name="DN2007">New York Daily News, [https://www.nydailynews.com/2007/03/12/simmons-called-tone-def-to-farrakhan-spiel/ Simmons called tone Def to Farrakhan spiel] ''New York Daily News'', 12 March 2007.</ref>

The [[Foundation for Ethnic Understanding]] and the ''Jewish Journal'' later described a public-service announcement co-starring [[Russell Simmons]] and [[Jay-Z]] that denounced antisemitism and likened it to racism; the FFEU site dated the spot to 2007 and said it aired heavily in Europe.<ref name="FFEUSimmons2013">Ryan Torok / ''Jewish Journal'', [https://www.ffeu.org/2013/02/the-muslim-jewish-side-of-russell-simmons/ The Muslim-Jewish side of Russell Simmons] ''Foundation for Ethnic Understanding'', 27 February 2013.</ref>

===Muslim–Jewish work, events and honours===

From 2007 [[Russell Simmons]] and [[Marc Schneier]] presented a global Muslim–Jewish programme, including the [[Weekend of Twinning]] / [[Season of Twinning]]. In 2012 they travelled to Israel for what [[Russell Simmons]] called the "holy grail": pairing Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi [[Yona Metzger]] and Jerusalem Grand Mufti [[Muhammad Ahmad Hussein]] in the twinning scheme.<ref name="Variety2016" /> He hosted [[Foundation for Ethnic Understanding]] fundraisers at his New York and Hollywood homes, including a 26th-anniversary event on 30 September 2015 at which he announced a gift from [[Will Smith]] and [[Jada Pinkett Smith]], and a March 2013 young-leadership benefit honouring [[Ali Naqvi]]'s circle.<ref name="Variety2015">Margaret Lenker, [https://variety.com/2015/scene/vpage/will-smith-jada-pinkett-smith-foundation-for-ethnic-understanding-1201610577/ Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith Donate to the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding] ''Variety'', 5 October 2015.</ref><ref name="BlackTie2013">Black Tie Magazine, [https://blacktiemagazine.com/society_march_2013/Foundation_for_Ethnic_Understanding.htm The Foundation for Ethnic Understanding] ''Black Tie Magazine'', 19 March 2013.</ref> On 8 March 2007 he and [[Marc Schneier]] presented the [[Joseph Papp Racial Harmony Award]] to [[Max L. Siegel]] at a New York spring benefit.<ref name="Getty2007">Getty Images, [https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/chair-of-the-foundation-for-ethnic-understanding-russell-news-photo/73530342 The Foundation For Ethnic Understanding Spring Benefit] ''Getty Images'', 8 March 2007.</ref>

On 12 February 2009 the [[NAACP]] gave him its Vanguard Award, citing in part his chairmanship of the [[Foundation for Ethnic Understanding]]. The [[World Jewish Congress]] noted that [[Marc Schneier]] was then head of [[WJC]] United States and a [[WJC]] vice-president.<ref name="WJC2009">[[World Jewish Congress]], [https://www.worldjewishcongress.org/en/news/russell-simmons-honored-for-intercultural-understanding Russell Simmons honored for intercultural understanding] ''World Jewish Congress'', 20 February 2009.</ref> In 2014 he and [[Marc Schneier]] were honoured at the US Capitol for 25 years of [[Foundation for Ethnic Understanding]] Black–Jewish work, with remarks from [[Chuck Schumer]], [[Henry Waxman]], [[James Clyburn]], [[Jerrold Nadler]] and others.<ref name="YW2014">The Yeshiva World, [https://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/headlines-breaking-stories/243384/rabbi-marc-schneier-russell-simmons-and-ffeu-honored-at-congress-for-25-years-of-leadership-in-black-jewish-relations.html Rabbi Marc Schneier, Russell Simmons, and FFEU honored at Congress] ''The Yeshiva World'', 2014.</ref> [[C-SPAN]] lists him as chairman of the organisation.<ref name="CSPAN">C-SPAN, [https://www.c-span.org/organization/foundation-for-ethnic-understanding/34468/ Foundation for Ethnic Understanding] ''C-SPAN'', accessed 24 September 2026.</ref>

===Money and in-kind role===

Public Form 990s list [[Russell Simmons]] as chairman at US$0 compensation.<ref name="ProPublica" /> No itemised grant from the [[Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation]] or [[Rush Communications]] to the [[Foundation for Ethnic Understanding]] was found. His documented contribution is convening, celebrity recruitment and the use of his homes as fundraising venues.<ref name="Variety2015" /><ref name="Variety2016" />

==2017 allegations and withdrawal==

In November–December 2017 multiple women accused [[Russell Simmons]] of sexual assault. He denied violence, apologised for being "thoughtless and insensitive", and said he would step aside from the businesses he founded so as not to be "a distraction". He left [[Def Jam Recordings]], clothing lines and the board of the [[Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation]].<ref name="NJ2017">National Jeweler, [https://www.nationaljeweler.com/articles/6239-russell-simmons-steps-down-from-businesses-after-accusations Russell Simmons Steps Down from Businesses after Accusations] ''National Jeweler'', 1 December 2017.</ref><ref name="QNS2017">Naeisha Rose, [https://qns.com/2017/12/hollis-icon-russell-simmons-resigns-from-business-after-sexual-misconduct-accusations/ Hollis icon Russell Simmons resigns from business after sexual misconduct accusations] ''QNS'', 8 December 2017.</ref> He does not appear on the [[Foundation for Ethnic Understanding]] board list GuideStar published as of 18 September 2025.<ref name="GuideStar" />

==Timeline (FFEU-related)==

* '''1990s''' – Honoured by [[Marc Schneier]]'s synagogue; offers to serve the [[Foundation for Ethnic Understanding]].<ref name="Variety2016" />
* '''June 2001''' – Hosts [[Marc Schneier]]–[[Louis Farrakhan]] meeting at his Manhattan penthouse.<ref name="Newsweek2001" />
* '''2002''' – Becomes chairman of the [[Foundation for Ethnic Understanding]].<ref name="InsidePhilSimmons" />
* '''2005''' – Described as chairman in ''New Voices''; organisation running [[Project Scorecard]] on congressional race votes.<ref name="NewVoices2005" />
* '''2006–2007''' – PSA with [[Jay-Z]] against antisemitism; spring benefit with [[Joseph Papp Racial Harmony Award]]; [[ADL]] clash over a [[Louis Farrakhan]] event he co-chaired.<ref name="FFEUSimmons2013" /><ref name="Getty2007" /><ref name="DN2007" />
* '''February 2009''' – [[NAACP]] Vanguard Award, citing FFEU chairmanship.<ref name="WJC2009" />
* '''2012''' – Travels to Israel with [[Marc Schneier]] for mosque–synagogue twinning involving [[Yona Metzger]] and [[Muhammad Ahmad Hussein]].<ref name="Variety2016" />
* '''2013''' – Young-leadership benefit at his home; West Coast push for Muslim–Jewish work.<ref name="BlackTie2013" /><ref name="FFEUSimmons2013" />
* '''2014''' – Honoured with [[Marc Schneier]] at the US Capitol for 25 years of FFEU Black–Jewish work.<ref name="YW2014" />
* '''September 2015''' – Hollywood fundraiser at his home; announces [[Will Smith]] / [[Jada Pinkett Smith]] gift.<ref name="Variety2015" />
* '''July 2017''' – Still describing himself as chairman on X.<ref name="UncleRush2017" />
* '''November–December 2017''' – Sexual-assault allegations; steps back from companies and the [[Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation]].<ref name="NJ2017" /><ref name="QNS2017" />
* '''2025''' – Not listed on FFEU GuideStar board extract.<ref name="GuideStar" />

==See also==

* [[Foundation for Ethnic Understanding]]
* [[Marc Schneier]]
* [[Joseph Papp]]
* [[Louis Farrakhan]]
* [[Def Jam Recordings]]
* [[Rush Communications]]
* [[Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation]]

==External links==

* [https://www.ffeu.org/ Foundation for Ethnic Understanding]
* [https://x.com/UncleRUSH Russell Simmons on X]
* [https://www.c-span.org/organization/foundation-for-ethnic-understanding/34468/ C-SPAN organisation page]

==Notes==

<references/>

[[Category:United States|Simmons, Russell]]
[[Category:Interfaith industry|Simmons, Russell]]
[[Category:Pro-'Israel' organisations|Simmons, Russell]]
[[Category:American Jewish Organizations and Israel-extract|Simmons, Russell]]
[[Category:Zionist movement|Simmons, Russell]]

Russell Simmons - Revision history

D-Backup: Created page with "{{short description|'''US hip-hop entrepreneur and former chairman of the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding'''}} {{Infobox person | name = Russell Simmons | birth_n..."