Photo Credit:Getty/ Johnny Nunez
A long-standing dispute between music mogul Russell Simmons and his ex-wife, Kimora Lee Simmons, has escalated into a public confrontation following Russell’s claims that he is being blocked from seeing their daughters. In a series of social media posts, the 68-year-old Def Jam co-founder alleged that Kimora is using their children as leverage to prevent him from pursuing legal action against her.
The public dispute was reignited after Kimora Lee Simmons gave a candid interview to People magazine, in which she stated that she does not maintain an active relationship with the fathers of her five children. “I’m pretty much the primary parent,” she told the outlet, noting that her children live with her full-time and describing the co-parenting dynamic as “difficult.” She added that while she manages co-parenting “okay,” she oftenfinds her ex-partners’ behavior to be “weird.”
Russell Simmons responded to these remarks via Threads, disputing Kimora’s narrative and accusing her of threatening to sever his relationship with their daughters, Ming Lee (25) and Aoki Lee (23). “I have been fighting for my kids’ love and my bread ever since,” Russell wrote, claiming that Kimora warned him that if he sued her, he would never speak to his children again. He further alleged that the tension stems from a legal dispute involving business stocks, which he claims were misappropriated.
The conflict between the former couple is not new, it has been simmering for years, punctuated by legal battles and social media outbursts. In 2021, Russell sued Kimora and her former partner, Tim Leissner, accusing them of using his shares in an energy drink company to secure a bond in Leissner’s criminal case. Kimora has denied any wrongdoing and a trial regarding the stock dispute is currently scheduled for January 2, 2026.
Public tension also flared in June 2023, when Aoki and Ming pointedly excluded Russell from Father’s Day tributes, instead honoring their mother. At the time, Aoki shared distressing text messages and video calls from her father, accusing him of harassment and verbal abuse. While Russell eventually apologized for his behavior, the latest exchange suggests that the rift within the family remains deep and unresolved. As the 2026 trial date approaches, both parties continue to offer contrasting versions of their family’s private struggles.
